§ Mr. SproatTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many fishing protection vessels the United Kingdom was employing at the latest available date; and how many fisheries protection personnel were engaged on such duties;
(2) if he will give the number of fisheries inspectors employed in the United Kingdom, at the latest available date.
§ Mr. CurryThe Royal Navy's fishery protection squadron currently comprises 13 ships, six to seven of which are likely to be engaged on fishery protection duties at any one time. The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) has six civilian vessels and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland has one.
The total number of Government fisheries inspectors—including SFPA marine officers with inspectorate duties but excluding staff on inland duties in Northern Ireland—is 184.