HC Deb 21 June 1999 vol 333 cc270-1W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he has held with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, on extension of the Working Time Directive to include maritime sectors; what assessment he has made of the impact of the Directive on fisheries; and if he will make a statement. [87341]

Mr. Ian McCartney

The DTI has overall policy responsibility for working time and co-ordinates the Government's response to EC proposals in this area.

DETR, which is responsible for marine safety issues including fishing vessels, has been extensively involved in developing Government policy on the proposals to extend the Working Time Directive to seafarers and sea fishing. MAFF has been extensively involved in developing Government policy on the proposals to extend the Working Time Directive to sea-fishing.

A copy of the Regulatory Impact Assessment produced for the Working Time Directive has been laid in the Libraries of the House. That was an assessment of the impact on all sectors of the UK economy, including sea-fishing.