§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has met the National Anglers Council in connection with his consultative document on the review of inland and coastal fisheries; with what results; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI have met representatives from all those bodies which have asked to see me on our "Review of Inland and Coastal Fisheries in England and Wales". While the National Anglers Council has not sought such a meeting, I have met and corresponded with the executive director and I have received a deputation from one of the Council's four constituent bodies. As part of our consultations, my officials held a meeting with representatives of the Council on 22 March 1982.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to which organisations he has sent replies to letters sent to him as part of the anglers' national protest on 1 June; and to how many individuals he has sent replies.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithAs I said in reply to the hon. Member for Merioneth (Mr. Thomas) on 28 October—[Vol. 29, c. 511]—my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I received about 6,600 letters this year on the subject of nylon monofilament gill nets. Replies were sent only to those letters calling for a response, a total of some 2,750. The breakdown of this452W figure between replies sent to organisations and those sent to individuals would be available only at disproportionate cost.