§ Mr. PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, (1) pursuant to his answer of438W 3 December, Official Report, column 625, on buying and selling fishing quotas and licences, when his Department first authorised the sale of fish quotas; [8954]
(2) pursuant to his answer of 3 December, Official Report, column 625, on buying and selling fishing quotas and licences, what rights of ownership over a fish quota are transferred when that quota is exchanged between fishermen's groups. [8955]
§ Mr. BaldryThe Ministry has not authorised the sale of fish quotas. Fishermen's groups are free to swap or transfer between themselves quota allocated to them annually subject to the approval of the Fisheries Departments. No one has ownership rights over United Kingdom quotas.