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Fisheries
10. Sir Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire): If she will make a statement on progress with the implementation of the EU North sea cod recovery plan. [133791]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): We have already taken measures to implement the interim cod recovery plan. We will be considering further such measures in the light of the latest scientific advice, consultation with the industry and the outcome of the December Agriculture and Fisheries Council.
Sir Archy Kirkwood : Will the Minister use his influence to try to discourage the scientists at the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas—ICES—from issuing headline-grabbing press releases two days before today's publication of a very sensitive piece of scientific research by ICES? Such behaviour really is not helpful. Can he also assure the House that he understands the importance of the North sea fleet having continuing access to demersal or white fish stocks next year, even if that means delinking haddock from the remaining stages of the cod recovery programme; otherwise, there will be no sustainable onshore or offshore industry left? Does he understand that the economic consequences of the total closure of the North sea next year would be devastating for many of the coastal communities around the United Kingdom?
Mr. Bradshaw: The short answer to those three questions is yes. I share the hon. Gentleman's discontent with the way in which ICES handles the release of information, by issuing a press release on Monday and the final report on Friday. I also understand that in the meantime some of the recommendations have changed.
On the second point, we will do whatever we can to mitigate any impact that the cod recovery plan has on other stocks, although I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will accept that we have to ensure that it is possible technically or through other measures to carry on catching shellfish and haddock, which are profitable and the stocks are plentiful, without catching cod as a by-catch. On the general economic impact on the North sea, he is right: a total closure would be absolutely devastating.
Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): My hon. Friend will probably remember his visit to my constituency in the early part of the summer. When he visits the coastal communities, is he picking up information from the quayside about the effectiveness of enforcement measures, which are a key component of the recovery plan? Does he propose to come back to the north-east and Yorkshire to hear concerns about whether an effective enforcement system is being applied to ensure that the recovery plan works so that we can have a sustainable fishery in the North sea?
Mr. Bradshaw: Yes, I remember with great fondness my visit to my hon. Friend's constituency, in particular a very smoky kipper that I had for breakfast, and I will endeavour to return as soon as possible. I feel that it would be just to other hon. Members, however, if I managed to visit their constituencies before I returned to one I had already visited.
On enforcement, my hon. Friend is right. The common fisheries policy makes no sense unless we can have some faith that there is a level playing field in enforcement throughout the European Union. That is something about which the Commission is very exercised. Indeed, it has an action plan to rectify it.
Pete Wishart (North Tayside): Can the Minister explain why, when the scientific assessment suggests that Scotland's major fish, the haddock, is at the highest level for 30 years, European scientists are recommending a complete ban on fishing in the North sea, which is ridiculous?
Mr. Bradshaw: That is because the haddock stock level is based on a single year, 1999. It is perfectly possible to have a good single year in which many haddock are born, which does not necessarily mean that the biomass, which is the important measurement of the health of the stock, is as healthy as that would indicate. I agree with the hon. Gentleman inasmuch as there are plenty of haddock. Fishermen are catching plenty of them. If we can do what we can to decouple haddock and shellfish from cod in the forthcoming negotiations, we will do so, but we need the evidence, which we are collecting. We are spending money collecting it with the fishermen on their vessels to satisfy ourselves that that is possible.
Genetically Modified Crops
11. Paddy Tipping (Sherwood): What criteria other than the results of the farm-scale trials will be considered in reaching the decision on the commercial growing of GM crops; and when a decision will be announced. [133792]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett): The criteria that must be met before any GM crop can be considered for approval for commercial cultivation in the EU are set out in great detail in EU Directive 2001/18/EC. No GM crop can be grown commercially without collective agreement by EU member states. No decisions on the
current applications are expected until after we have responded to the GM public dialogue, and all the different strands of that and the other evidence.
Paddy Tipping : The Secretary of State has undertaken a significant amount of work on this matter. There are different voices in the argument. One thing that might unite us is the recognition of the process and timetable for decision making. Will the Secretary of State use her best endeavours to indicate to the House today when a final decision on commercial growing in the United Kingdom will be taken?
Margaret Beckett: I cannot give my hon. Friend that understanding, but I can give him some indication of when the decision will not be taken. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment referred earlier to the public hearings that the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission is conducting. One is to be held on 27 November and one on 4 December, if my memory serves me right. After that, it will have to consider and produce its reports. We are not sure when we will get the report from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment on co-existence and how different crops can be grown alongside one another, but we anticipate that it will probably be before Christmas, although that is not clear. All of that will have to be taken into account and it is extremely unlikely that the evidence that European Union member states will need will be available much before the new year. I should not be surprised if it were not early in the new year. I am afraid that that is the best I can do, because the timetable is not all within our control.
Fisheries
12. Mr. John MacDougall (Central Fife): What measures she is taking to protect fish stocks in UK waters. [133793]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): We agreed last December on reform of the common fisheries policy to improve management of fish stocks in EU waters. We also agreed emergency measures to protect cod in the North sea and west of Scotland, and are discussing long-term recovery plans with other member states. We have introduced a number of UK measures to protect stocks, including restrictive licensing for shellfish, which will come into effect from 1 January.
Mr. MacDougall : I thank the Minister for his response. He touched on the subject earlier, and that reaffirmation regarding a level playing field in our approach to fish stocks is an important message for our fishing industry. Will he continue both to give out that message and to make representations?
Mr. Bradshaw: I am happy to give my hon. Friend that assurance. My Scottish colleague and I will work hard with the industry on this issue, which is devolved, to try to get the best deal possible for the whole of the United Kingdom from the forthcoming Council, while ensuring that stocks that are under threat have a sustainable future.
Business of the House
12.30 pm
Mr. Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst): May we please have the business for next week?
The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Peter Hain): The business for next week will be as follows:
Monday 27 October—Opposition day [20th allotted day]. There will be a debate entitled "The Threat to NATO from EU Defence", followed by a debate entitled "Effect of Government Targets on the Provision of Health Care". Both debates arise on an Opposition motion.
Tuesday 28 October—Remaining stages of the Waste and Emissions Trading Bill [Lords].
Wednesday 29 October—Motion to approve the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Modification) (No. 2) Order 2003.
The Chairman of Ways and Means has named opposed private business for consideration.
Thursday 30 October—Motion relating to pay for Select Committee Chairmen.
Friday 31 October—The House will not be sitting.
The provisional business for the following week will include:
Monday 3 November—Remaining stages of the Sexual Offences Bill [Lords].
I should like to inform the House that the business in Westminster Hall for the beginning of November will be:
Thursday 6 November—A debate on the reports from the Quadripartite Committee on export controls.
Thursday 13 November—A cross-cutting question session on older people, followed by a debate on housing: improving conditions and making the market work better.
I am pleased to announce the Commons calendar for the next Session. I have to warn the House that I have erred on the side of caution and have identified only those days on which we can be confident that the House will not be sitting. However, subject to the progress of business, if I am able to offer additional days I will do so. Details of the recesses are as follows:
For Christmas, the House will rise on Thursday 18 December and return on Monday 5 January 2004. For the constituency recess, the House will rise on Thursday 12 February and return on Monday 23 February. The House will rise for Easter on Thursday 8 April and return on Monday 19 April. For Whitsun, the House will rise on Thursday 27 May and return on Monday 7 June. The summer recess will begin when the House rises on Thursday 22 July, returning on Tuesday 7 September. The House will rise for the conference recess on Thursday 16 September and will return on Monday 11 October.
Copies of the Calendar are now available in the Vote Office—I have one here.
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