§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost of policing the British fishing areas by means of fishery protection vessels since the inception of the common fisheries policy.
§ Mr. MacGregorI regret that figures for the precise period in question could be obtained only at disproporpionate cost. The total cost to the fisheries departments of fishery protection by vessels in United Kingdom waters was about £13.25 million in 1982–83.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many aircraft are engaged on fishery protection operations in the United Kingdom; and at what estimated cost.
§ Mr. MacGregorA total of three aircraft are employed under contract with private companies for coastal aerial242W surveillance work. Offshore surveillance is provided by RAF-operated Nimrods which, in conjunction with their other duties, fly 160 hours per month on this task.
The total cost to fisheries departments of these operations amounted to some £8 million in 1982–83.