(Lab):
My Lords, the Minister mentioned enforcement and referred to the
five new River class vessels, one of which is going to the
Falkland Islands. It is quite clear that we have insufficient
ships to patrol an EEZ if we have to enforce new rules. Also, the
JMOCC does not have proper centralised co-ordination. I have
talked about that with the Minister before and that has to be in
place before the new rules come in. Is it possible to consider
using the two River class vessels that been put on one side and
have not been disposed of, and to man those with reservists so
that we can enhance the number of ships without too great a cost?
We will need more ships if we are to enforce these new rules.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Gardiner of Kimble)
(Con): My Lords, many noble Lords will know that the
noble Lord and I went to see the MMO in Newcastle and had a very
interesting day looking at some of the technology for detecting
whether a vessel is aping some other activity but is really
fishing. I agree that the Royal Navy plays an important part in
enforcement, and it will continue to do so. I am afraid that it
is not within my gift to comment on longer-term deployment and
the number of vessels, but we are absolutely clear that other
third countries are well able to enforce their fisheries policy,
and we need to work on a system that works for us.
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