§ 10. Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers both directly and indirectly employed in the fishing industry in each of the past five years, both nationally and in the port of Kingston upon Hull.
§ Mr. BoothMy Department can provide separate information for the fishing industry but not for employment indirectly associated with it.
As the reply consists of a table of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the Official Report, but I would like to say that the figures show that there was a rise in the number of employees employed in the fishing industry in Kingston upon Hull from 1.8 thousand to 2.2 thousand between 1971 and 1974. Over the same period the numbers employed in the fishing industry in Great Britain as a whole fell from 10.8 thousand to 9.7 thousand.
§ Mr. WallThe Minister will be aware that these figures, taken over the fishing ports of the country as a whole, show a considerable degree of unemployment. Will he consult his right hon. Friend and suggest that the operating subsidies should be reintroduced on a short-term basis at least until the common fisheries policy and new limit lines have been settled?
§ Mr. BoothThat is largely a question for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The industry's employment prospects are 1110 closely linked with the question of fishing opportunity, the reappraisal of the EEC common fisheries policy and the outcome of international negotiations. My Department is very concerned with the employment aspects of these negotiations, and in our discussions with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture we shall take heed of what the hon. Gentleman said.
§ Following is the information:
| EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT, FISHING INDUSTRY | |||||
| June in each year | Great Britain | (Thousands) Kingston upon Hull | |||
| 1974 | … | … | … | 9.7 | 2.2 |
| 1973 | … | … | … | 11.2 | 2.3 |
| 1972 | … | … | … | 10.6 | 1.9 |
| 1971 | … | … | … | 10.8 | 1.8 |
§ These figures relate 18th June in each year from 1971, when the current employment series began, to 1974, the latest date for which it is available.