To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which measures which he has (a) introduced and (b) proposed to the European Commission under (i) Article 8, (ii) Article 9 and (iii) Article 10 of Council Regulation 2371/2002 have been approved; and if he will make a statement. (180754)

In January 2005, the UK invoked Article 9 of Council Regulation 2371/2002. In its proposals, the UK sought a ban on pelagic pair trawling by all member states within 12 nautical miles of the English coast within The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Area VIIE. The European Commission rejected the proposal and the ban on pelagic pair trawling remains applicable to UK vessels only under the South-West Territorial Waters (prohibition of Pair Trawling) Order 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures which EU Member States have (a) introduced and (b) proposed to the European Commission under (i) Article 8, (ii) Article 9 and (iii) Article 10 of Council Regulation 2371/2002 have been approved; and if he will make a statement. (180755)

To the best of my knowledge, none of our neighbouring member states have invoked, or had approved, measures that have a significant effect on the UK fishing industry under Articles 8 and 9 of Council Regulation 2371/2002 . A more complete answer to this question can be obtained from the European Commission as the Article 8 and 9 measures are only notified to the Commission, concerned member states, and the relevant regional advisory council.

Article 10 measures are applicable solely to fishing vessels flying the flag of the member state invoking the article and are therefore not notifiable to other member states.