§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) oral and (b) written warnings were given by Her Majesty's fishery protection vessels to (b) British and (b) foreign vessels in each year since 1982 and in the first three months of 1993.
§ Mr. JackFull details of warnings issued before 1988 are not available. Formal oral warnings which have been issued and recorded in Scotland are being replaced by written warnings. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland informal oral warnings are given for extremely minor offences and not recorded. Details of warnings issued to United Kingdom and foreign registered vessels from 1988 are as follows:
Year United Kingdom Foreign oral Scotland written oral Scotland written 1988 30 99 16 24 1989 30 16 18 48 1990 54 83 8 34 1991 90 159 3 61 1992 48 161 22 48 1993 10 158 1 10
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many foreign fishing vessels were prosecuted as a result of actions by the United Kingdom's fishery protection force in each year from 1982 and in the first three months of 1993.
§ Mr. JackThe number of foreign fishing vessels prosecuted as a result of actions by the United Kingdom's fishery protection force in each year from 1983 and in the first three months of 1993 is as follows. Complete figures are not available for 1982.
Prosecutions of foreign vessels Number 1983 14 1984 26 1985 29 1986 38 1987 43 1988 55 1989 53 1990 35 1991 45 1992 28 1993 7
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are taken to check for secret fish holds when foreign fishing vessels are boarded by Her Majesty's fishery protection vessels; in what circumstances the ships' plans are inspected on boarding; and how many vessels in each year since 1990 and in 1993 to date have been unable to provide these plans.
§ Mr. JackFishery protection officers check for any indications of secret fish holds as a matter of routine. Fish 397W room plans are checked against actual dimensions where there is any suspicion of irregularities. At present records of vessels unable to produce fish room plans are not maintained.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what record is kept of oral and written warnings given by Her Majesty's fishery protection vessels to foreign vessels; whether such warnings are cited in subsequent prosecutions; and how many vessels and skippers given written warnings have subsequently been prosecuted for other fishing offences.
§ Mr. JackIn the United Kingdom full records are kept of all written warnings and records of oral warnings are also kept in Scotland. Such warnings are cited in subsequent prosecutions wherever it is relevant and legally permissible to do so. Since 1991 after receiving a written warning one skipper of a foreign vessel has been prosecuted for a different offence.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what notification is given to(a) the EC Commission, (b) home Government and (c) EC fishing enforcement forces when foreign vessels have been successfully prosecuted for fishing offences in British waters; what control register of offenders is kept; and what report is made to the Department of Transport registration authorities when United Kingdom-registered foreign vessels are involved.
§ Mr. JackUpon completion of a court case against a foreign vessel the Commission and the home Government are notified by telex of the details of the case including the offence and the penalties imposed. This information is available to the EC inspectorate. Records are held of both offences and prosecutions.
No report is given to the Department of Transport in respect of fisheries offences.