§ Mr. Luceasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total cost to the British Government of the fisheries dispute with Iceland, in eluding the cost of civilian patrol vessels, subsidies to fishermen for losses sustained during the dipute, maintenance off Iceland of the Royal Navy protection fleet, and repair of damage sustained by Royal Navy vessels as a result of the dispute.
§ Mr. BishopThe estimated total cost to date of civilian defence vessels, together with the compensation paid to crews and officers for lost earnings in the period from 24th January to 4th February when naval protection was temporarily withdrawn, is about £1.7 million. The running costs of Royal Navy ships operating in waters off Iceland are similar to those that would be incurred wherever the vessels were deployed. As regards damage sustained by such ships, I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, East (Mr. Prescott) on 6th April.—[Vol. 909, c.130.]