HC Deb 22 February 1977 vol 926 cc541-2W
21. Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1st January 1977 contact has been made between naval vessels on fisheries protection duties and foreign trawlers fishing within the 200-mile limits.

Mr. Duffy

Since 1st January 1977 regular contact has been maintained with foreign trawlers within our 200-mile fishing limits through surveillance by RN and RAF aircraft, by Her Majesty's ships employed on fishery protection duties and by the fishery protection fleet operated by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. In the period 1st January to 21st February inclusive there were 138 boardings of foreign fishing vessels from Her Majesty's ships.

29. Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are his plans to increase further the efficiency of the maritime patrol and fishery protection boats; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Duffy

I have no reason to doubt the adequacy of the resources the Royal Navy currently devotes to fishery pro- tection, but the matter is being kept under review as the fishery regime in extended limits develops. I am satisfied that these duties are being carried out by the ships in a highly efficient manner.

In addition to the two new offshore patrol vessels of the Island class now with the Royal Navy, three more are under construction and should be delivered before the end of the year. Studies are now in hand regarding the provision of new ships to replace the Ton class minesweepers in the Fishery Protection Squadron.

34. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the cost effectiveness of the RAF aircraft at present being used for maritime and fishery protection.

Mr. Wellbeloved

The addition of one Nimrod to each of the four United Kingdom-based Nimrod squadrons represents a cost-effective solution to the requirement to provide aircraft for fishery protection and offshore surveillance duties. One of a number of factors which led us to the decision to use the Nimrod was their availability at no additional capital cost. Moreover, these aircraft and their crews are fully interchangeable with the maritime patrol Nimrods. This avoids the need for special-to-type service and support facilities for the offshore protection aircraft and permits the attainment of a high degree of operational flexibility and effectiveness with the minimum number of extra aircraft.