§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many Russian (a) trawlers and (b) other ships enter into British territorial waters on average each month.
§ Mr. TebbitSoviet trawlers have no fishing rights within the United Kingdom's 200-mile fisheries zone but Soviet fishing support ships enter our territorial waters to buy and sell fish. The number varies according to the season reaching between 20 and 30 at peak periods. During 1979 the monthly average of Soviet merchant ships entering our ports was about 70 making about 120 calls. Most of these ships are engaged on the short sea trades and call at ports in the Thames and Humber regions.