Petitions

The final petition is PE365 on fixed fishing quota allocations and property rights. Members will recall that the committee agreed on 10 September to conclude its consideration of this petition by noting the issues raised by the petitioner. We also agreed to write to the minister to seek further information on the current situation. Members will have seen the minister's response. Are members happy for us to send a copy of the minister's letter to the petitioner?Members indicated agreement.

We have dealt with it and have to close our consideration of it.We will consider European issues in the near future and we are bound to discuss fishing. We will have to consider the fisheries councils in more depth, possibly in the new year. On 2 December, Ross Finnie will attend the European and External Relations Committee. At least one member of this committee is also on that committee, but other members may want to attend that meeting. This committee will deal with the results of whatever the European fisheries ministers achieve. Any future regulations or monitoring issues will come back to this committee, and some of the information provided by the minister will be useful for future consideration.