§ Andrew BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out the timetable for the implementation of regulations under Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. [91136]
§ Alun MichaelThe table records the overall progress we have made towards consulting on, and bringing regulations into force, and our current timetable for completing the process. The precise timing of each of the remaining intermediate stages may vary but we are firmly committed to ensuring the necessary regulations are made so as to allow the new right of public access under the Act to be rolled out on a region by region basis as scheduled.
(3) what recent reports she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the purchase of UK fishing licences by foreign owners operating from EU member states; [90647]
(4) what estimate she has made of the proportion of boats over 10 metres in length in the UK offshore fishing fleet whose fishing licence is held by a non-UK resident EU national. [90649]
§ Mr. MorleyThe operation of UK fishing vessel licences is kept under constant review, in consultation with the industry, through the Joint Industry/Departmental Licensing Working Group which meets regularly and last reported to Ministers in November 2002. In accordance with EU rules on freedom of movement and rights of establishment, EU nationals and corporate bodies incorporated in a member state may own and license vessels on the UK fishing vessel register provided that they are resident in the UK or have a place of business in the UK respectively or alternatively that they appoint a representative person in the UK. All vessels so owned must be managed, and their operations directed and controlled, from within the UK. They must also maintain an economic link with the UK. Reports on economic link compliance are 735W published annually by Fisheries Departments and copies are available from the Library. Details of the number of licences acquired annually by foreign owners operating from within the EU are not recorded centrally by Fisheries Departments. However the reports on compliance include estimates since 1996 of the numbers of vessels which are understood to be beneficially owned in whole or in part by foreign interests. At 31 December 2001 there were 118 such vessels out of a registered over 10 metre fleet of 1,942 vessels, compared with 161 vessels out of a fleet of 2,467 vessels at 31 December 1996. There are currently nine vessels on the UK register whose licences are held by EU nationals not resident in, or companies not with a place of business in, the UK.