HC Deb 15 February 1980 vol 978 c855W
Mr. Torney

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any evidence that farmers who have accepted Government grants to switch from dairy farming to other forms of farming, have returned to dairying after the agreed five-year period is over.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Under the provisions of the EEC dairy herd conversion scheme recipients of grant were required to give up marketing milk and milk products for a period of four years. In England, Wales and Scotland 175 producers in the scheme, representing approximately 3 per cent. of the total number who received approval, are known to have returned to dairying. No figure is available for Northern Ireland.

Quotas (tonnes Voyages undertaken Vessels employed
North Norway/Svalbard* 48,500 75 33
Faroe 21,700 151 38
Canada 1,100 1 1
International waters n the Northwest Atlantic 1,800 0 0
73,100 227 72
* Fishing in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea has not been included

A variety of factors prevented the full utilisation of quotas. Had all been taken the number of voyages would have been greater. There were further limited fishing opportunities available off West Africa but these have not so far attracted British interests. United Kingdom vessels no longer have rights to fish at Iceland or off the USSR.

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