HC Deb 20 April 1994 vol 241 c558W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assurances were given when she met the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisation in discussing future accession to the Barents sea;

(2) what rights of access for fishing are being purchased from Russia for (a) Spain and (b) the United Kingdom as a result of Norwegian access negotiations; and how these will be paid for;

(3) what priority will be given to the United Kingdom against other countries when future opportunities arrive for the United Kingdom distant water fleet in the Barents sea.

Mr. Jack

The agreement reached between the EU and Norway on the terms for Norwegian accession to the Union provided for fishing opportunities for 8,000 tonnes of arctic cod or equivalent to be secured for the cohesion countries—Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Greece—from third countries. As is normal in such arrangements, the cost will be a charge to the Community budget.

I have made clear to the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations that I will press for a United Kingdom quota share under any EU-Russia fisheries agreement which may be negotiated.