Written question asked by Eric Martlew (Labour) on Monday, 30 June 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 July 2008. It was answered by Jonathan Shaw (Labour) on Thursday, 10 July 2008 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

North West Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committee

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms are in place for the (a) representation of the interests and (b) consideration of the views of the Solway Haafnetters by the North West Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committee when making decisions affecting them.

Answer: Stakeholder groups including the Solway Haafnetters are not represented on the North West Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committee (RFERAC).The Environment Agency advertises regularly for applications for membership of the Environment Agency's North West RFERAC. The most recent recruitment process took place in May 2008. An application for a committee member place was not received by a Solway Haafnet licence holder at that time.As standard practice, the Environment Agency would take into account the interests of affected stakeholders when forming views on fisheries and other matters. When items connected with haafnetters are debated by the Committee, members are free to ask for any information to assist with their deliberations. All agendas and minutes of the North West RFERAC are available upon request.

Secondary information