§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what agreements his Department has with DEFRA in relation to the number of days per year Royal Navy fishery protection vessels must be on patrol; and if he will make a statement; [66037]
(2) how many days on fishery patrol naval vessels have undertaken for MAFF/DEFRA in each of the past five years; [66038]
(3) when HMS Shetland completed her last fishery protection patrol; and when she will be paid off; [66036]
(4) when HMS Tyne will carry out her first operational fishery patrol. [66039]
§ Mr. IngramThe Royal Navy carry out fishery protection duties under an agreement with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The current arrangements run from April 2002 until March 2008. For the current year the Royal Navy has agreed to provide a total of 950 days of fishery protection. This figure is reviewed and agreed annually.
In each of the last five years the Royal Navy carried out the following number of patrol days:
Number 2001–02 957 2000–01 977 1999–2000 979 1998–99 1,104 1997–98 1,130 HMS Shetland completed her final fishery protection patrol on 28 June 2002. She will be paid off at the end of July. On current plans, HMS Tyne will carry out her first operational fishery protection patrol in January or February 2003.