§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will commission a study of the level of indebtedness of the fishing industry in order to assess the need for aid from his Department.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithNo. My right hon. Friend already has available to him statistics on the industry's level of indebtedness.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has received about the level of indebtedness of fishing vessel owners and agents;
(2) what future arrangements he intends to make to continue aid to the fishing industry when the present arrangements cease.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his questions on 26 April—[Vol. 22, c.181.]
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate (a) the annual operating costs, (b) the contribution made by his temporary aid provision and (c) the level of interest payments on bank and other borrowings for an average English fishing vessel of over 60 ft and under 60 ft.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithEach of the two categories of vessel referred to covers such a wide range of types, sizes and ages of vessel that the estimates sought would be difficult to make and would not be meaningful.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the scale of bank and other borrowings by the fishing industry.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithLending by all commercial banks to the fishing industry totalled £86 million in mid-February 1982. In addition, loans from the Sea Fish Industry Authority stood at £13.5 million, from the Highlands and Islands Development Board at £5.4 million, and from the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland at £3 million.