HC Deb 11 May 1994 vol 243 cc151-2W
Mr. Wallace

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what expenditure has been incurred by her Department(a) up to 31 December 1993, and (b) since 1 January 1994 in making preparations, including the purchase of equipment, for the implementation of the Sea Fisheries (Conservation) Act 1992.

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 4 May 1994]: Most of the expenditure was on staff salaries for officials dealing with claims from fishermen for additional days at sea and for the secretariat of the Sea Fish Licence Tribunal. This expenditure amounted to £318,000 up to 31 December 1993 but it includes the salaries of staff who were also working on other tasks such as the 1993 decommissioning scheme. Those officials engaged solely on the implementation of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act have gradually been redeployed over the first quarter of this year and expenditure has been reduced accordingly.

Mr. Wallace

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many officials of her Department were engaged in work related to the implementation of the Sea Fisheries (Conservation) Act 1992 in December 1993; and how many officials continue to be engaged in work related to the implementation of this Act.

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 4 May 1994]: At the beginning of December 1993 10 officials were responsible for assessing fishermen's representations against their provisional days at sea allocations; they have all been redeployed. The Sea Fish Licence Tribunal secretariat with six staff has also been disbanded.

Mr. Wallace

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amount of computer hardware and

£ million
Total gross expenditure Total gross voted expenditure
1990–91 1991–92 1990–91 1991–92
Sea Fisheries Industry Authority 8.675 9.208 8.463 4.098

software has been purchased by her Department for the purposes of implementing the provisions of the Sea Fisheries (Conservation) Act 1992.

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 4 May 1994]: Computer hardware and software was purchased mainly for the operation of the Sea Fish Licence Tribunal. The hardware has now all been put to good use elsewhere in the Department and future expenditure will be correspondingly reduced.