§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the number, average gross registered tonnage, type and countries of origin of fishing vessels operating in 1984 on fishing grounds within 150 miles of the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. StanleyDuring 1984 the daily average number of fishing vessels detected within the Falkland Islands protection zone has usually varied between 40 and 60. Vessels entering the zone have been registered in the Soviet Union, Poland, Japan, Taiwan, German Democratic Republic, Federal Republic of Germany, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Liberia, Norway, Philippines and Panama. We do not record the precise type or gross tonnage of such fishing vessels generally.
§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Defence if there has been an increase in the number of fishing vessels operating within 150 miles of the Falkland Islands since July 1982.
§ Mr. StanleyInformation is available only from December 1982. The number of vessels fishing within the 150-mile Falkland Islands protection zone has remained of the same order of magnitude over the past two years.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the procedure for making a change in the rules of engagement during the Falklands campaign.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe higher management of the Falklands crisis was conducted by a small group of Ministers chaired by the Prime Minister. Changes in the rules of engagement were normally made by this body, in the light of military and other advice.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions during the Falklands campaign the rules of engagement were altered.
§ Mr. HeseltineOften. I am preparing advice for the Foreign Affairs Committee on this subject.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if the right hon. Sir John Nott, since 1 July 1983, has had access to documents relating to changes in the rules of engagement for the Falklands campaign to which he would have had ready access when he was a member of the War Cabinet.
§ Mr. HeseltineI understand that Sir John Nott explained the extent of his knowledge of events when he gave evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 5 December. I have nothing to add to what he said then.