§ Lord Lyellasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 23rd November; and to make a statement.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)My honourable Friend the Minister of State in this department chaired the meeting of the Council. My honourable Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, Sir Hector Monro, represented the United Kingdom.
The Council reached agreement on the general guidelines for the Multi-Annual Guidance Programmes to be set for 1993–1996. These envisage cuts of up to 20 per cent. in demersal fleets, cuts of up to 15 per cent. for beam trawlers and a freeze in the size of pelagic fleets. Forty to forty-five per cent. of the necessary cuts can be made by effort reductions. The detailed arrangements are to be agreed by the EC Structures Committee.
The Council agreed the arrangements for tariff quotas and suspensions for 1993. The 1993 support prices had already been agreed in principle prior to the Council.
The Council also discussed some of the main elements in the Commission's proposal for a replacement to the basic regulation for the Common Fisheries Policy. There was general endorsement of the principle of relative stability and the need to continue the special access arrangements agreed in 1983, including the Shetland Box. There are to be further expert discussions with a view to reaching final agreement on a new regulation at the December Council.