§ Mr. John TownendTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy that the position of the fishing industry safety group will be safeguarded following changes to the Marine Safety Agency. [24816]
§ Mr. NorrisI have asked the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write my hon. Friend.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. John Townend, dated 16 April 1996:
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your Question about safeguarding the position of the Fishing Industry Safety Group (FISG) following changes to the Marine Safety Agency (MSA).Procedures for consultation on safety matters with the fishing industry, of which FISG is an important part, are currently being reviewed with the full participation of the industry. As part of the review, industry representatives met recently with MSA officials to discuss consultation procedures, including FISG. The industry has undertaken to consider and comment on the current arrangements and possible ways in which those arrangements could be improved. The MSA will consider those comments fully before decisions are taken about future consultation arrangements.