Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Bowie and George Eustice

Thursday 26th April 2018 Commons Chamber

[George Eustice]

We have already made many changes to give additional quota to the small under-10 metre fleet in particular. We permanently realigned some unused quota in 2012, and since the introduction of the discard ban, the annual quota uplift has been top-sliced and additional quota given to the under-10 metre sector each and every year.

[Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (Con)]

8. What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on common UK frameworks for agriculture after the UK leaves the EU.

--- Later in debate ---

[Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (Con)]

T2. This week, the European Parliament’s PECH Committee adopted a report that would make the UK’s access to the EU market for fishery and aquaculture products dependent on EU vessels’ access to British waters and on the application of the common fisheries policy. That is unacceptable, so will the Secretary of State confirm the Government’s commitment that the UK will become an independent coastal state at the end of the implementation period, free from the CFP?

[The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (George Eustice)]

We strongly disagree with the position set out in that European Parliament report, and I can confirm that we will become an independent coastal state at the end of the transition period.