§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of fishing vessels laid up or transferred to non-fishing duties in the latest 12 months for which figures are available; how many persons this has rendered unemployed directly or indirectly, respectively, or transferred from work connected with fishing to work not connected with fishing.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownMovements of Scottish vessels in and out of fishing occur constantly. The following table shows the numbers laid up at the time of surveys by my Department:
The effect on employment of particular vessels entering or leaving the active fishing fleet cannot readily be isolated from other developments in the industry, but during 1976 the number of regularly employed fishermen rose from 7,507 to 7,560.