HC Deb 12 April 1994 vol 241 cc11-2W
Mr. Steen

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will publish the name, size, type and home port of all the Brixham and south-west Devon inshore fishing vessels accepted to date as being eligible for decommissioning.

Mr. Jack

I am not able to publish information on individual vessels. However, of the 135 vessels decommissioned under the 1993 scheme, five were from Brixham and four from Plymouth. They ranged from 10 to 20 m in length and from nine to 42 gross registered tonnes. The majority were demersal trawlers.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement setting out the view of Her Majesty's Government on enlargement of the European Union and its consequences for the Brixham and south Devon inshore fishing fleet.

Mr. Jack

I set out the satisfactory outcome of the negotiations on fisheries between the European Union and Norway in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Ives (Mr. Harris) on 22 March,Official Report, column 120. In that reply I explained that the common fisheries policy rules applying within the waters of the Twelve generally, and the special rules applying to Spain and Portugal under their accession treaty are unchanged by the agreement. With reference to access for in-shore fishing, the Norwegian treaty will make no changes, but it will contain a joint EU-Norway declaration undertaking to pay special attention to the interests of coastal communities when the Council decides the arrangements on access to waters within the 12-mile limit which are to apply after the year 2002.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on access by the Spanish fleet to the English channel; and what assessments she has made of its consequences for the Brixham and south Devon inshore fishing fleet.

Mr. Jack

Adjustments to the current restrictions on Spanish and Portuguese access to the waters and fisheries of the other 10 member states are for decision by the Council of Ministers. A proposal setting out the broad principles for the adjustment of Spanish and Portuguese fishing arrangements is before the Fisheries Council meeting on 12 April. Subsequently, detailed proposals are expected from the Commission within the next few months. In negotiations on them, I shall continue to promote United Kingdom fishing interests, including those of Brixham and south Devon fishermen.