02/07/10
“No Concerns”

The NFFO says that it has “no concerns” following Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Cabinet Secretary's press claim that Scotland has won concessions to take the lead in the Council of Ministers on fisheries matters.

NFFO Chairman Davy Hill said:"We have no concerns on this issue. The constitutional position is clear and the devolution settlement is clear: the UK minister represents the UK in the Council of Ministers. Obviously the UK Minister will want to operate in a collegiate and, inclusive way with the ministers of the devolved administrations but there is no confusion ov er the issue. And this is no change from past practice. Any suggestion that the reality is different from this can be disregarded as political posturing."

"The NFFO’s recent meeting with UK Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon, gave us no concerns on this issue."