§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what access British fisheries inspectors have to all ships registered in Britain; and when they last inspected the British-registered fishing fleet based in La Coruna in northern Spain.
§ Mr. CurryBritish sea fisheries officers have powers to inspect all United Kingdom and foreign-registered fishing vessels in British ports and at sea within British fishery limits.
United Kingdom-registered ships that are over 10 m in length and land less than 50 per cent. of their catch in the United Kingdom are required to make at least four pre-notified visits to British ports in each six month period (January-June and July-December). Subject to other priority work, British sea fisheries officers check such vessels on these visits. In addition, they are subject to inspections at sea by the United Kingdom fisheries protection service.