asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further conservation measures he proposes to take to prevent the over fishing of stocks of mackerel by deep-sea trawlers.

The arrangements for licensing mackerel fishing by United Kingdom vessels are designed to avoid overfishing and to strike a fair balance between all the interests involved. In the light of experience and of the various representations that have been made to me, I am considering what arrangements should apply at the beginning of 1980: these will be announced shortly.