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Fisheries Restructuring
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what EU fisheries restructuring and modernisation funds will be available to the United Kingdom once agreed United Kingdom fleet reductions have been achieved. [37566]
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Mr. Morley:
EU funds for structural assistance in the fisheries sector are administered under Council Regulation EC No. 3699/93, which required Member States to submit Sectoral Plans setting out detailed programmes of aid taking account of the provisions of their Multi-Annual Guidance Programmes (MAGP) for improving the balance between catching capacity and available stocks. Regulation 3699/93 does not, however, allow the granting of any aid for vessel construction which does not comply with a Member State's global, intermediate MAGP objectives and its final objectives by segment within the stated time limits. Aid for any modernisation likely to result in an increase in fishing effort is similarly precluded.
Because of the extent of the fleet reductions required to meet UK MAGP III targets, the Sectoral Plan submitted by the previous administration in March 1994, copies of which are available in the Library of the House, gave priority to expenditure on decommissioning and vessel safety grants. Some £14.8 million remains under these headings in the current programming period, which ends on 31 December 1999, subject to the required nationally funded contributions being available to draw down these EU funds. But the previous administration made no provision for UK expenditure to comply with MAGP targets after the end of the 1997-98 financial year.
The question of what EU aid might be available for other restructuring and modernisation measures once fleet reduction targets have been achieved accordingly depends both on any necessary further expenditure towards meeting those targets and on new resources being found in UK national spending plans, which are still in the process of being examined in the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. Entitlement to such aid would not, however, be automatic, but would require revisions to the UK's Sectoral Plan which the Government would propose only if they considered such measures justified in the circumstances then prevailing.
Mr. Dafis:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his timescale for the introduction of an early retirement scheme for farmers; [37954]
Mr. Morley:
Responses to the consultation document issued on the principle of whether or not to introduce an early retirement scheme or other measures have been requested by 30 April. If the Government decide, in the light of these responses, to introduce such a scheme prior approval must be sought from the European Commission. The Commission could take up to six months to grant such approval. Any scheme is therefore unlikely to be introduced before the end of 1998.
The Government will consider carefully any representations that an early retirement scheme should be linked to measures to assist young people to enter farming.
22 Apr 1998 : Column: 665
Mr. Townend:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what ruling the European Court of Justice has made concerning the Order of the President of the European Court of Justice, Case 246/89R-Commission v. the United Kingdom, Paragraph 26, at page 3132. [38193]
Mr. Morley:
The European Court of Justice confirmed in case C 246/89 that the UK had complied with the President's interim order (Case C 246/89R) to suspend the application of the nationality requirements enshrined in the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 with effect from 2 November 1989. The Court made no specific reference to paragraph 26 of the President's order.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will reply to the letters written by Prowse Thomas (Solicitors), of Brixham, on behalf of trawler owners Captain P. D. and Mrs. J. W. McLeod, to his Department on the 5, 17 and 22 December 1997, 9 and 17 January 1998, and 13 and 23 February 1998; what the reasons are for the delay; and for what reasons he has refused to grant dispensation, relating to the trawler Van Dijck. [38384]
Mr. Morley:
I understand that Ministry officials have been in correspondence with Prowse Thomas and that the matter has now been concluded.
Sir Raymond Powell:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the review of arrangements for enforcing the rules on the welfare of animals exported live to the Continent to be completed. [38801]
Mr. Morley:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Dr. Palmer) on 18 November 1997, Official Report, columns 116-17. Our detailed proposals will be issued shortly for public consultation.
Sir Raymond Powell:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the review of salmon and freshwater fisheries to be completed. [38789]
Mr. Morley:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on 8 April 1998, Official Report, columns 234-35.
Sir Raymond Powell:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the review of fishing vessel licensing to be completed. [38802]
22 Apr 1998 : Column: 666
Mr. Morley:
The review of fishing vessel licensing has yet to commence but I would expect the review to be completed by the end of 1998.
Mr. Gill:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reason the EU questionnaire on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy was not addressed to member states' Governments. [39261]
Mr. Morley:
The questionnaire was issued by the European Commission. Determining the addressees was a matter for the Commission.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the dumping at sea off the Essex coast of material dredged from Harwich harbour; [38943]
Mr. Morley:
A site known as Rough Towers, some 15 kilometres south-east of Harwich, has been used for disposal of dredgings from a number of ports including Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich for many years.
Monitoring at this disposal site has been, and will continue to be, carried out by the Ministry's scientists at the Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science as well as by Harwich Haven Authority. Inevitably, disposal of large quantities of dredgings has had a localised effect at the site itself but there is also some evidence that fine sediments from the disposal of maintenance material have dispersed from the site. Fishermen have expressed concern that the deposit of fine sediment has altered adjacent crustacea fishing grounds.
Harwich Haven Authority has applied for licences under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 to dispose of dredged material arising from the deepening of the approach channel serving the Ports of Felixstowe and Harwich. A detailed assessment is currently being made of the applications and of the accompanying Environmental Statement, paying particular regard to the potential impact upon the marine environment and crustacea fisheries. Harwich Haven Authority, in consultation with the Ministry, are investigating a possible new disposal site further offshore to accommodate silty maintenance dredgings.
The Ministry requires particular emphasis to be given to the search for alternatives to sea disposal for dredged material. In conjunction with the Environment Agency, English Nature and local authorities, several areas have been identified where the material may be used beneficially to enhance marine and inter-tidal habitats and for coastal defence works, thus minimising the quantity to be disposed of to sea.
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Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Luxembourg on 20 to 21 April; and if he will make a statement. [39558]
Dr. John Cunningham:
I chaired the fifth meeting under the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union Council of Agriculture Ministers on 20-21 April in Luxembourg. My noble Friend, Lord Donoughue, The Parliamentary Secretary responsible for the farming and food industry, represented the United Kingdom.
The principal items for discussion at the Council were Commission proposals on amendments to the EU banana, tobacco and olive oil market regimes; and its proposals in respect of common agricultural policy (CAP) prices for the 1998-99 marketing year. The Council marked an important step forward in the negotiations on all of these. On bananas, I was able to conclude that the Council would work towards an agreement in June on the basis of the Commission's proposal for changes to the EU banana regime to bring it into line with the ruling of the WTO appellate body. I was also able to conclude, in relation to both tobacco and olive oil, that intensive work would continue at expert level in the light of the guidance given by the Council, with the aim of reaching early conclusions on these proposals if possible. The Council also
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recognised the importance of concluding the CAP price-fixing negotiation under the UK Presidency in June, and I undertook as Council Chairman to work to achieve that outcome.
The Council adopted by qualified majority (Germany opposing) a proposal from the Commission extending until 31 December 1998 temporary rules on agri-monetary compensation and the freezing of green rates, but with tighter rules to reduce the risk of over-compensation.
(2) what plans he has to link the proposed early retirement scheme for farmers with measures to assist young people to enter the industry. [37953]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects of the dumping at sea of material from the dredging of Harwich harbour on (a) the marine environment, (b) coastal fisheries and (c) lobster fisheries off the coast of Essex. [38944]