§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many contracts have been won by his Department for(a) consultancy work and (b) survey work on behalf of developers in the marine environment in each of the last five years; [14096]
(2) if he will list the contracts carried out by his Department for (a) consultancy and (b) survey works for developers in the marine environment in each of the last five years; [14095]
§ Mr. BaldryThe centre for environment, fisheries and aquaculture science, formerly the directorate of fisheries research, which is part of this Department, has been awarded six contracts for monitoring the effects of aggregate extraction on specific aspects of the marine environment. Details of these contracts are:
relationship with the new agency which will operate from 1 April this year.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are in place to ensure there is not a conflict of interest between that part of his Department seeking consultancy work on the marine environment from developers and that part of his Department acting as regulator. [14098]
§ Mr. BaldryConsultancy assignments are accepted by the centre for environment, fisheries and aquaculture science only on the basis that the work involved requires an objective assessment. Scientists who provide regulatory advice do not contribute to them.