§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money his Department has spent during each of the last five years on measures to protect the North Sea from over-fishing and from poaching by foreign vessels, indicating the estimated value of these beneficial measures in money and weight of fish to the British fishing industry and to the British public and indicating also his plans in these matters for the next twelve months by way of research and otherwise.
§ Mr. John HareThe hon. and learned Member presumably has in mind expenditure by my Department on fisheries 75W research and by the Admiralty on fishery protection. Fisheries research covers a very wide field and it is impracticable to evaluate and apportion costs and benefits in the manner asked for.
Fisheries research brings substantial benefits, both direct and indirect. I shall continue to give it full support this year and afterwards.