Speeches by Zeichner.

“I think it is working effectively, yes.”

“A lot of time has been spent discussing pollack over the last few years, and I will probably bring my expert colleagues in. But immediately I would say that part of the problem is that the advice is that it is not necessarily thriving, and that is what we have to follow. That then leads us into the complex issue of cho…”

“I think you will find there have been a lot of debates in this place.”

“Again, I would say this can be raised as part of the current review that is going on. Alongside that, we have the new regulations that are coming in that deal with the Agricultural Supply Code Adjudicator. But I hear the point about the wider issues, and I am certainly happy to look at that if evidence comes from your …”

“The assessment the Treasury did is detailed in a letter that the Chancellor published to the Treasure Select Committee. I have not seen any evidence to suggest that those figures have changed since then.”

“Not necessarily; we have very efficient producers in our country.”

“Yes.”

“I understand the point you are making, and I too see that discrepancy between the anecdotal accounts and what comes through in the scientific advice. Colin may be able to add a little more.”

“Well, the first thing I would say is that I would not believe everything that is rumoured around an issue like this, because there is obviously lots and lots of speculation. Of course we have discussions, because the transitional period comes to an end in the middle of next year, but no decisions have been taken and th…”

“Again, I am going to seek expert advice on that one.”

“I have not had any communication so far.”

“As I say, Chair, I believe we have robust supply chains, and I encourage people to have a reasoned dialogue, very much as we have had this morning, about the way forward for the future. The overwhelming message should be that this is a really important sector all the way through the food chain. It does a magnificent jo…”

“Thank you for inviting us this morning. I am Daniel Zeichner. I am the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs.”

“I am not sure I quite follow the question, but basically it is obviously a market-driven system, so it depends essentially on the relationships within the sector. I am perfectly happy to pay tribute to the Chair and his predecessors for intervening in this a decade ago, introducing the Groceries Code Adjudicator and GS…”

“It does not tell the whole story, because we are working, as I say, within the legislative framework that was agreed by Parliament under the Fisheries Act. Our task is to make those judgments.”

“It absolutely does, but it shows the complexity of the decisions that are being made. As a Minister, I can only follow the scientific advice we are being given.”

“May I look to you for that one, Mike?”

“When I say the system is working well, what I mean is, in terms of the way it has been set up and what it has been asked to do.”

“Well, he probably would say that, but what we want to do is to secure the best possible outcome that we can for UK fisheries, and that will be a further discussion to be held in the months ahead.”

“Well, the French will say what they will say, but we are aptly determined to stand up for the interests of the UK fishing industry.”