§ Mr. Prescottasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many vessels have been hired for the protection of British trawlers around 456W Iceland; what is their individual and total cost; and for what periods they have been hired.
§ Mr. BishopThree civilian vessels are at present on charter. The charters of two of these are renewable monthly; the third charter runs to the end of April 1976. The total cost of defence by civilian vessels, including that of three other vessels no longer on charter, is estimated at £780,000 from 11th November 1975 to 11th February 1976. The individual cost of each of the three vessels now on charter ranges from about £140,000 to about £270,000 up to 11th February 1976.