COMMON FISHERIES POLICY

Early day motion 537, tabled 16 January 2003 by Bob Spink (Conservative). Signed by 7 members.

That this House is alarmed that under the CFP negotiations in December 2002, draconian cuts to the British fishing industry were agreed by the British Government including a 45 per cent. cut in cod catches, a 50 per cent. cut in haddock catches, a 60 per cent. cut in whiting catches and a 15 day fishing limit each month applying to all British boats over 10 metres, while Holland and Denmark's industrial fishing practices which led to the mass destruction of immature white fish was virtually untouched, Spain increased its hake quota and can continue its state aid for fishing-boat construction until 2004, France and Spain received no cut in fishing in the Atlantic with no reduction in time at sea and the Belgian plaice quota was reduced by only five per cent.; and calls on the British Government to drop European CFP controls in favour of national controls in order to conserve our fish stocks and sustain our fishing and fishing-dependent industries and communities.

Signatures by party: Conservative 5, UUP 2.