HC Deb 06 May 1980 vol 984 c59W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will intiate inquiries to allow the publication in the Official Report of a complete survey of all governmental aid and subsidies to fishing in other Common Market countries.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The Government are aware of the main features of the measures taken by other Governments in the European Community to help their fishing industries. It would, however, be a major task to prepare a fully comprehensive survey of all the national, regional and local measures which could be considered to be direct or indirect aids or subsidies to the industry in a form appropriate for publication. I would not regard this as an appropriate use of my Department's limited resources.