§ Sir Geoffrey PattieTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she plans to continue the decommissioning scheme for fishing vessels; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. JackOn 14 December 1993, when I announced the suspension of the introduction of days-at-sea restrictions, I said that we would be reviewing the way forward for the other elements of the fisheries conservation package, in particular decommissioning. That review has now been completed and I am pleased to announce that the two further rounds of decommissioning, this year and in 1995–96, are to go ahead as planned. Of the total of£25 million for 1993–94 to 1995–96, £8.9 million will be made available this financial year. This includes an amount corresponding to the balance remaining from last year's scheme. I hope that a further significant reduction in fleet capacity will be achieved so contributing, with licence aggregation penalties, towards our Community effort reduction targets or multi-annual guidance programme. We shall be exploring further with the industry and with the Commission what other measures we might adopt to help us to achieve our MAGP targets. We are looking particularly at technical conservation measures and at
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§ Mr. JackI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. friend the Minister of State for the Environment and Countryside on 14 June, at column337.