HL Deb 19 November 1997 vol 583 c80WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they support the recent European Parliament decision that the common fisheries policy is to be run on a non-discriminatory basis by the year 2003.

Lord Donoughue

The resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 5 November did not say that the common fisheries policy should be run on a non-discriminatory basis by the year 2003. It did, however, stress that after the year 2002 exceptions to the principle of free and equal access to Community waters must remain possible on socio-economic, biological and environmental grounds. It also stressed that the waters within 12-mile territorial limits should be for the exclusive use and management of the coastal member state concerned.