Lords quiz Richard Benyon MP on Common Fisheries Policy
5 June 2013
The House Lords EU Sub-Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Energy opens its short inquiry into proposals to introduce a ban on discarding fish as part of a reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy by taking evidence from Richard Benyon MP, Environment, Water and Rural Affairs Minister at DEFRA.
- Parliament TV: Evidence session with Richard Benyon MP
- Inquiry: Common Fisheries Policy Reform EU Sub-Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Energy
Witness
At 11am, Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster
- Richard Benyon MP, Parliamentary-Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment, Water and Rural Affairs, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The session with Mr Benyon will be the first of the Committee’s follow-up inquiry and will cover the latest negotiations between EU Fisheries Ministers and the European Parliament, and what legal measures need to be introduced to enforce a discards ban. The Committee will also ask Mr Benyon how the government intends to work with the European Commission and other Member States to ensure the ban is enforced throughout the EU.
Commenting ahead of the evidence session Baroness Scott, Chair of the Lords EU Sub-Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Energy, said:
“We all know that declining fish stocks are a real concern and that reform to the Commons Fisheries Policy is needed to ensure our seas do not become barren. Recent campaigns suggest the public oppose the widespread practice of discarding unwanted fish back into the sea and our 2008 report supported calls for a discard ban.
“However if a ban is to work it needs to take into account the economic incentives for fishermen. We also need more clarity on how a discard ban would be enforced. Our short inquiry will provide an independent assessment of the proposed reforms and our evidence session with Richard Benyon will be important in helping us understand the government’s position”