Fisheries (Hansard, 8 March 2000)

§ Mr. Hilary Benn
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the reduction in grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency for fisheries work. [112554]

§ Mr. Morley
[holding answer 6 March 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) on 27 October 1999, Official Report, column 922W.

§ Mr. Hilary Benn
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the grant-in-aid from his Department for fisheries work by the Environment Agency for each of the last three years in(a) current prices and (b) constant prices. [112553]

§ Mr. Morley
[holding answer 6 March 2000]: Grant-in-aid paid by MAFF to the Environment Agency 723W for salmon and freshwater fisheries work (all figures in £ million) are as follows:

£ million

(a) Current (b) Constant

1997–98 7.4 7.4 (England and Wales)

1998–99 ¹22.1 ¹21.6 (England and Wales)

1999–2000 4.8 4.6 (England only)

¹ In 1998–1999 there was a temporary change in the rules whereby all revenue from licence fees was returned to Treasury but with an equivalent increase in grant-in-aid. The underlying figure for MAFF grant-in-aid is £7.9 million, which included a one-off additional payment of £0.5 million to assist with the enforcement of the salmon conservation byelaws.

£ million
	(a) Current	(b) Constant
1997–98	7.4	7.4	(England and Wales)
1998–99	¹22.1	¹21.6	(England and Wales)
1999–2000	4.8	4.6	(England only)
¹ In 1998–1999 there was a temporary change in the rules whereby all revenue from licence fees was returned to Treasury but with an equivalent increase in grant-in-aid. The underlying figure for MAFF grant-in-aid is £7.9 million, which included a one-off additional payment of £0.5 million to assist with the enforcement of the salmon conservation byelaws.