Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
With reference to the letter from the President of the European Commission to the Prime Minister of 17 June 1997, when they expect the Commission to come forward with proposals for "developing greater involvement in the decision making process at the level of the local fishing interests most affected", and what steps the Commission has already taken in this direction.
§ Lord DonoughueI expect this to be a continuing process, building on existing contacts with local fishing interests. As part of the process, the Commission has recently held pilot regional committees on North Sea flatfish and, on 23–24 June, on management of North East Atlantic pelagic fisheries.