To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on possible changes to EU labour law exemptions for the fishing sector; and if he will make a statement. (163256)

I have been asked to reply.

The Government will consider in detail any proposals for changes to EU labour law exemptions for the fishing sector. Any such proposals would need to be considered in the context of the provisions of two recent international conventions agreed in the International Labour Organisation, the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 and the Work in Fishing Convention 2007.