HC Deb 22 May 2000 vol 350 cc389-90W
Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 3 May 2000,Official Report, column 142W, on fisheries, what is the required procedure for maintaining (a) the national fisheries quota system based upon the existing relative stability and (b) restrictions upon access within national six and 12 mile limits beyond 2002. [122742]

Mr. Morley

Article 14(2) of Council Regulation 3760/92 requires the Council to decide by 31 December 2002, on the basis of a Commission report to the Council and the European Parliament and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 43 (now 37) of the Treaty (which requires a qualified majority in favour of a Commission proposal and consultation with the European Parliament)on the provisions to follow the access restrictions within national six and 12 mile limits which, in accordance with Article 6 of the Regulation, expire on 31 December 2002; on any necessary adjustments to be made to other provisions of the Regulation, including those concerning the national quota system based on relative stability: if no such adjustments are made, existing arrangements will continue unchanged beyond 2002.

As indicated in my reply to the hon. Member of 3 May, the Government are confident that both these provisions will be retained beyond 2002.