§ Sir Nigel Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the gross national product of the Falkland Islands for the years 1975 and 1976 and what he estimates it is likely to be in 1977.
§ Mr. RowlandsThe gross national product of the Falkland Islands for the year 1975 was £2.768 million. There is insufficient data to establish the figure for 1976 and 1977.
§ Sir Nigel Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the commercial development of inshore fishing in the Falkland Islands; when these will come into operation; what the gross value of the annual catch is estimated to be; and by what percentage this would increase the gross national product of the islands.
§ Mr. RowlandsThe Governor is anxious to encourage the commercial crab fishing trials being conducted in Falkland Islands inshore waters. The trials will continue on a larger scale next November, after which it may be possible to assess the potential of a crab meat industry. It is too early to estimate the value of any annual catch.