§ Mr. SykesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the benefits accruing to the United Kingdom arising from the allocation of United Kingdom funding to help the European Union secure fishing rights in waters off(a) Morocco, (b) Mauritania, (c) Guinea, (d) the Seychelles, (e) Angola and (f) Sao Tome. [12657]
§ Mr. BaldrySome European Community fisheries agreements with third countries benefit mainly southern member states. Thus except for Mauritania, where one UK vessel fished in 1996, the UK does not benefit directly from the fisheries agreements between the EU and third countries listed. However, other fisheries agreements bring far greater benefits to the United Kingdom. The Government are concerned to achieve value for money from the agreements as a whole.