§ Mr. Salmondto ask the secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs what progress has been made with the renegotiation of the December fisheries council; and whether the issue of the impact of force majeure on days at sea has been addressed. [157068]
§ Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 27 February 2004]:The Government has been pressing the European Commission to bring forward urgently amendments to the haddock permit scheme agreed at the December Fisheries council. expect to receive a proposal from the commission for such changes in the next few days. We expect to receive a proposal from the Commission for such changes in the next few days. We have also pressed the Commission to add a force 945W majeure provision to the measure for limiting fishing effort. We understand that the Commission are sympathetic to inserting such a provision into the legislation.