Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his French counterpart on ensuring that information resulting from the toxicity testing of scallop fishing areas in the English Channel is made available to British fishermen in a timely manner or at the same time as to French fishermen; and if he will make a statement.

As the responsible UK body, the Food Standards Agency has reiterated to the French Authorities the importance of ensuring that communications about the opening of fisheries, where raised toxin levels in scallops have resulted in their closure, are made to all of those affected at the same time.