§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of fishing vessels laid up, the number of new vessels introduced, the number fishing and the number of fishermen employed in the English fishing industry for each of the years 1976 to 1985.
§ Mr. GummerNot all the information requested is available. The following are the details on the English and Welsh fishing fleet for which information is available:
489W
Vessels laid up* New vessels† Total number of vessels Number of fishermen‡ Regularly employed Partially employed 1976 — 74 3,832 8,730 4,149 1977 — 35 4,080 8,172 4,498 1978 — 37 4,146 8,064 4,755 1979 — 21 4,405 8,377 4,558 1980 — 9 4,047 8,455 5,135 1981 — 31 4,637 8,450 5,922 1982 — 28 4,228 8,258 5,465 1983 — 28 4,676 8,022 5,355 1984 39 29 5,067 8,142 4,571 1985 65 28 n/a n/a n/a * Vessels laid up with decommissioning grants under the Fishing Vessels (Financial Assistance) Scheme 1983.
† Vessels constructed with grants from the Herring Industry Board, White Fish Authority or Sea Fish Industry Authority.
‡ As at 31 December of each year—figures taken from "Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables."