Decommissioning of Fishing Vessels Scheme 2007

As the Minister reminded us, this is a small and well-targeted scheme. It is salutary to remember that previous decommissioning schemes have not always worked out as well as we would have hoped. Originally, those who offered ships for decommissioning did so when they had a ship that was no longer very effective, although I think that this scheme will avoid that. As my noble friend Lady Byford hinted, there was the danger that money that was received for decommissioning simply went to increase effort in replacement ships. It would be helpful if the Minister gave some assurance that that will not happen in this case. The other factor that has to be taken into account to determine whether effort will indeed be reduced—which is, after all, the object of the exercise—is that some attempt must be made to quantify illegal fishing. It is a fact of life and happens in every fishery, not only in our own waters; it happens throughout the European Union and in other fisheries around the world. So to quantify how successful the decommissioning is in determining that the take has been reduced, someone must make some calculation about the quantity of illegal fishing at present and whether it is increasing or decreasing. The ultimate aim is to manage each fishery and area effectively. That is part of a long-term management plan. As I understand the Minister, the decommissioning proposals will not be implemented if the long-term management plans for this area are not agreed. This plan must be welcomed, because all sectors are now involved in preparing these plans, which is highly important if they are to be effective. Can the Minister assure us that they will be in place by the appointed date, which I understand to be April?