SHETLAND BOX

Early day motion 1677, tabled 16 February 2006 by Michael Weir (Scottish National Party). Signed by 10 members.

That this House welcomes the resolution of the European Parliament of 14th February relating to the Shetland Box which received the overwhelming backing of all political groups; notes that the resolution recognises the socio-economic importance of the Shetland Box area to communities in the north of Scotland; further notes that the European Parliament agrees with the Commission's Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries' (STECF) view that the Shetland Box is possibly more important now than it was at the time of the Box's establishment; further notes that the European Parliament resolution highlights the fact that the STECF suggested that eliminating the Shetland Box might result in an increase in fishing effort in the area and that any such increase should be avoided; further welcomes the European Parliament's call that the Shetland Box be kept in place should the Commission's proposed further evaluations of the Box take longer than the three-year period currently anticipated; and calls on the Scottish Executive to endorse the views of the European Parliament and to work to ensure that any decisions taken in the EU Council on the matter are in line with the European Parliament's resolution.

Signatures by party: Labour 4, Liberal Democrat 3, Scottish National Party 3.