HC Deb 01 April 1985 vol 76 cc413-4W
Mr. Maclean

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the objections which the salmon farmers' sector of the salmon trade has made to a system of salmon tagging.

Mr. MacGregor

Salmon farmers have said that they are generally opposed to the idea of tagging all Atlantic salmon, including farmed salmon, particularly in view of the difficulties which they see arising over tagging salmon taken from sea cages and the burden they consider it would place on their industry in terms of additional costs and decreased efficiency.

Mr. Maclean

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what proposals he has to reduce the present levels of salmon and sea trout theft by poaching;

(2) what practical problems need to be overcome before a system of salmon tagging is introduced; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. MacGregor

The taking of wild salmon and sea trout by illegal means is a matter to which the Government have given a great deal of attention, including a very thorough examination of the possibilities of controlling salmon sales by a tagging scheme. This has involved discussions with the interested parties which have identified particular difficulties over the successful implementation of such a scheme, including the control of imports, the handling of our own farmed salmon and

mecu
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Cereals 962.7 383.0 589.3 655.9 629.9 1112.5 1563.7 1669.3 1921.4 1824.5 2441.2 1650.0
Rice 9.9 1.0 3.4 18.4 13.5 17.9 42.9 58.7 21.7 50.3 92.9 47.8
Sugar 130.1 106.1 271.2 229.3 598.4 878.0 939.8 575.2 767.5 1241.9 1316.2 1631.5
Olive oil 245.5 109.9 158.9 143.4 177.1 182.1 388.2 317.9 442.7 493.1 675.3 1096.4
Oilseeds/Proteins 79.1 13.9 40.3 119.1 105.2 186.6 279.7 429.9 648.2 803.5 1087.9 871.2
Textiles 5.9 12.0 15.0 20.7 14.7 15.9 18.1 17.1 72.2 116.4 160.0 108.0
Fruit/Vegetables 31.1 58.5 72.6 185.1 178.2 100.7 442.9 687.3 641.1 914.3 1196.1 1454.6
Wine 10.7 41.0 141.3 133.8 89.9 63.7 61.9 299.5 459.4 570.6 659.2 1222.6
Tobacco 112.5 166.4 200.5 185.4 205.4 216.1 225.4 309.3 361.8 622.6 671.3 776.4
Minor products 19.7 20.7 32.4 40.1 28.0 31.4 40.2 38.2 46.7 53.4 55.6 51.5
Milk 1514.5 1257.9 1193.7 2277.7 2924.1 4014.6 4527.4 4752.0 3342.7 3327.7 4396.1 5441.7
Beef 17.4 322.1 923.3 615.9 467.7 638.7 748.2 1363.3 1436.9 1158.6 1736.5 2546.8
Sheepmeat 53.5 191.5 251.7 305.6 433.5
Pigmeat 93.4 69.7 56.9 29.0 37.3 45.0 104.9 115.6 154.6 111.6 145.0 195.9
Eggs/Poultry 22.2 18.2 9.4 15.1 25.6 38.1 79.5 85.5 83.9 103.9 123.3 69.8
Processed goods 23.9 13.7 23.9 67.0 136.3 208.5 252.2 221.2 282.5 414.4 343.2 382.4
ACAs/MCAs 379.5 499.9 780.4 840.2 1190.3 907.5 708.6 298.5 238.4 313.1 488.6 376.2

Sources: 1973–1983 EC Commission Financial Reports. 1984 EC Commission figures.

Sir Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total expenditure on the common agricultural policy for each year since 1973

control over the issue and use of tags. I will make an announcement as soon as we have been able to reach a conclusion.

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