HC Deb 31 July 1998 vol 317 cc731-3W
Sir Brian Mawhinney

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date and by what means the Parliamentary Secretary, the hon. Member for Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley),informed the right hon. Member for North West Cambridgeshire (Sir B. Mawhinney) that

Landings, effort and index of abundance (landings per unit effort) for brown shrimps from The Wash and adjacent areas 1986 to 1997
Year Landings in tones Effort in 1000s hours fished LPUE in kg/hour
1995 869 38 22.8
1996 548 19 29.3
1997 495 19 26.5

Dr. George Turner

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what by weight was(a) the actual catch of brown shrimp by Wash fishermen, in The Wash or off the Lincolnshire coast during the months August to December 1997 and (b) his estimate of the catch which would have been possible in the absence of the dredging and beach replenishment programme at Mablethorpe; [53745]

(2) what estimate was made of the shortfall in income to (a) Wash fishermen and (b) those directly involved in processing the catch, which resulted from the difference in catch of brown shrimp in September to December 1997 and the average catch made in the years 1993 to 1996 when the difference is valued using relevant prices for (i) grade A and (ii) grade B brown shrimp; [53746]

(3) if he will tabulate the catch of brown shrimp by (i) weigh and (ii) monetary value made by Wash fisherman in the Wash or off the Lincolnshire coast, during the months August to December for each of the years 1993 to 1996 and the corresponding average data for these years.[53744]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 30 July 1998]: The following table shows total landings of brown shrimp into the Wash ports by volume and value.

he would be in the North-West Cambridgeshire constituency on ministerial business. [53452]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 30 July 1998]: I was in the North West Cambridgeshire constituency on ministerial business on 22 July when I visited the East of England Agricultural Show.

It is usual practice for my Office to inform hon. Members in writing when their constituencies are included in itineraries for my visits. My office did so on this occasion also, but regrettably, were incorrectly advised that the East of England show ground was located in the adjacent constituency of Peterborough. The letter was therefore incorrectly addressed.

Steps have been taken to ensure that such errors do not recur.