Oral Answers to Questions

Peter Aldous Excerpts
Thursday 28th March 2019

(5 years ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
The Secretary of State was asked—
Peter Aldous Portrait Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)
- Hansard - -

1. What plans he has for fisheries policy after the UK leaves the EU.

Michael Gove Portrait The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Michael Gove)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The Government’s vision for future fisheries policy as we leave the European Union was set out in our July 2018 fisheries White Paper. A sea of opportunity exists for all of the United Kingdom’s coastal communities, provided we ensure that we vote to leave the European Union in an orderly fashion.

Peter Aldous Portrait Peter Aldous
- Hansard - -

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for setting the scene, but will the Government support the amendment to the Fisheries Bill tabled by me and colleagues that will promote the fairer distribution of fishing quota, more environmentally sustainable fishing methods and a much better and greater opportunity to revitalise coastal communities such as Lowestoft?

Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My hon. Friend is an impressive advocate for fishing communities, not least his own in Lowestoft. He is absolutely right: as we leave the European Union, we must reallocate additional quota in order to ensure that under-12 metre vessels get a fairer share of fishing opportunities, not least because the way in which they fish is of course environmentally sustainable, and also contributes to the growth and prosperity of communities that have been neglected for far too long.