§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on(a) the timescale in section 32 of the Cologne Council Conclusions for integrating environmental issues and sustainable development into fisheries matters and (b) current discussions on the discard system. [100997]
§ Mr. MorleyThe information is as follows:
- (a) Section 32 of the Cologne European Council Conclusions calls upon the European Commission to report back during 2000 on progress in the integration of environmental issues and sustainable development into fisheries policy. The Government fully supports such integration and will be encouraging the European Commission to meet this commitment.
- (b) Discarding remains a significant concern of the Government. A range of research is placed on the extent of discarding. In addition, we are part funding the collaborative international study by Nautilus Consultants, as referred to in the reply given to the hon. Member on 29 October 1999, Official Report, column 1045W. The new EU technical conservation measures that will become operative from 1 January 2000, are designed to reduce discards. We shall be monitoring their impact.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries of the European Union which are allowed to fish in British fishing waters. [101043]
§ Mr. MorleyVessels from France, the Republic of Ireland, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium have limited rights to fish within UK six to twelve mile territorial waters. The details of the areas and species for which access is granted are set out in Annexe I of EU Council Regulation 3760/92.