§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the additional likely cost of providing adequate protection to preserve the United Kingdom's 200-mille fishery zone when this comes into effect.
§ Mr. DuffyTo prepare for future offshore tasks, including fishery protection within extended limits, we are providing five new Island Class ships for the Royal Navy and allocating four Royal Air Force Nimrod surveillance aircraft. The first of the new ships has already been commissioned and the remainder will enter service during 1977; the aircraft will be available from 1st January 1977. The capital cost of the new ships will total approximately £17.5 million; the aircraft are being provided from existing resources. The annual running costs of these ships and aircraft will total approximately £5 million.
The new ships and aircraft will be in addition to the resources of the present Fishery Protection Squadron of the Royal Navy and the Fishery Protection Fleet of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. Other existing resources of the Armed Forces will be made available as required.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied he will be able to provide adequate maritime surveillance over the 200-mile fishery zone to ensure that vessels operating illegally within the prescribed limits can be quickly spotted and apprehended.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is considering placing orders for fast patrol vessels capable of policing the forthcom- 46W ing 200-mile fishery zone around the United Kingdom's coasts.
§ Mr. DuffyNo. This task was taken into account in the decision to order five vessels of the Island Class for the Royal Navy and to allocate four Royal Air Force Nimrod surveillance aircraft for offshore patrol duties.
§ Mr. Joplingasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of repairing damage caused to ships engaged in protecting the United Kingdom's fishing fleet in waters around Iceland, during the United Kingdom's recent dispute over fishery limits.
§ Mr. DuffyI have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. Steel) on 15th June 1976.—[Vol. 914, c.96.]