§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure the consistency of fishing vessel safety inspections. [60181]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonI have been asked to reply.
The consistency of fishing vessel safety inspections is established principally by means of statutory fishing vessel rules and regulations, and supplementary guidance for surveyors carrying out the inspections. Other steps being taken include surveyor training, monitoring of inspections, meetings between fishing vessel surveyors and meetings with the fishing industry.
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if the principle of relative stability will continue beyond 2002; [59824]
(2) what legal text governs the length of time that the principle of relative stability will continue. [59825]
683W
§ Mr. MorleyArticle 8(4) of Council Regulation (EC) 3760/92 lays down the requirement to distribute fishing opportunities between Member States in such a way as to assure each Member State relative stability of fishing activities for each of the stocks concerned. No time limit is placed on the duration of this provision. It will therefore continue automatically beyond 2002 unless there is agreement by the Council, acting by qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, to change it.