§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the licence duties set out in Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland 1980, Nos. 388 and 393, have been increased; what is the percentage increase on the former sums in each case; what has been the percentage increase in the cost of living index since the last increase; and what has been the percentage increase in the costs of running the Fisheries Conservancy Board and the Foyle Fisheries since the last increase in licence duties.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe licence duties referred to in these Statutory Rules apply only to that part of Northern Ireland under the control of the Fisheries Conservancy Board.
The board is a self-financing organisation which normally relies on licence duties as its main source of income and the increases proposed for 1981 are necessary to enable it to carry out its responsibilities under the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966.
The percentage increase from 1980 to 1981 on the former licence duties is set out below:
- (a) Eel Fishing (Licence Duties) Regulations (NI) 1980 SR 1980 No. 388: these increases vary from 29 to 30 per cent. for each type of licence.
- (b) Fisheries (Licence Duties) Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 1980. SR 1980 No. 393: the increases are shown on the following table:-
343W
Fishing Engine 1980 1981 % increase £ £ Draft net for the capture of salmon and freshwater fish on Lough Neagh. 28.00 36.00 29 Draft net for the capture of freshwater fish other than trout and Rainbow trout on Lough Erne. 18.00 23.00 29 Draft net for use in freshwater other than Lough Neagh or Lough Erne. 70.00 91.00 30 Single wall set net or trammel net for the capture of trout in Lough Neagh per 100 yards. 4.00 5.00 25 Single wall set net or trammel net for the taking of freshwater fish other than trout and rainbow trout per 100 yards. 4.00 5.00 25
Fishing Engine 1980 1981 % increase Bait net for the taking of freshwater fish other than trout and rainbow trout for use as bait—per net. 1.00 1.50 50 Long lines for the capture of pike on Lough Erne. 3.00 10.00 233 Fixed tidal draft net. 70.00 120.00 71 Fixed tidal draft net which operates in the estuary of a river upstream of a defined mouth. 420.00 546.00 30 Tidal draft net. 52.00 10000 92 Drift net used in tidal waters. 52.00 100.00 92 Bag net used in tidal waters. 174.00 226.00 30 Salmon box or crib. 209.00 272.00 30
Fishing Engine 1980 1981 % increase £ £ Season game fishing rod licence 6.20 7.75 25 15 day game fishing rod licence 4.20 5.25 25 Additional amount payable by the holder of a Foyle Fisheries Commission season game fishing rod licence to use a single game rod. 4.70 6.25 33 Season coarse fishing rod licence 1.45 3.00 107 Fifteen day coarse fishing rod licence 0.70 2.00 186 Dealer's Licence 10.00 15.00 50 Since January 1980 when the licence duties were last increased, the retail price index has increased by 13.6 per cent. The percentage increase in the cost of running the Fisheries Conservancy Board since the last increase in January 1980 is approximately 22 per cent. The cost of running the Foyle Fisheries Commission is a matter for the commission itself, but I understand that it has increased by 0.2 per cent. since the last increase in licence duties on 1 March 1980.
§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there has been an increase in the staff of the Fisheries Conservancy Board and the Foyle Fisheries Commission during the last 12 months; and, if so, how many extra staff were engaged, and for what periods by each body.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThere were no increases.