HC Deb 14 February 2002 vol 380 c649W
Mr. Caton

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Secretary for Agriculture in the National Assembly for Wales on assistance for the English and Welsh shellfish industries, in recovering from the impact of recent diarrhetic shellfish poisoning outbreaks. [34533]

Mr. Morley

None.

Mr. Caton

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the economic, employment and environmental impact of recent outbreaks of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning in the UK. [34535]

Mr. Morley

None. The devolved Administrations have responsibility for making such assessments in their own areas. In England, we have, at the request of the Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries Committee, made provision under the Thames Estuary Cockle Fishery Order 1994 for greater flexibility in the management of the fishery to help minimise the impact of any closures on local cockle fishermen.