HC Deb 01 May 2002 vol 384 cc779-80W
Mr. Pickthall

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the French ban on British beef. [53033]

Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the effects multilateral consultation will have on the legislative power of sea fisheries committees; and if she will make a statement; [53208]

(2) what assessment she has made of the financial implications for local government of future additional control responsibilities for sea fisheries committee resulting from the 2002 Common Fisheries Policy review; and if she will make a statement. [53207]

Mr. Morley

As I have previously said, the time to take stock of all the aspects of the role and activities of Sea Fisheries Committees will be once we know the outcome of the review of the Common Fisheries Policy. That means when we have not only the overdue proposals on the CFP from the Commission but also a conclusion in the negotiations that will follow in the Council of Ministers. It would be premature to draw any conclusions in relation to Sea Fisheries Committees in advance of that.