HC Deb 07 November 1986 vol 103 cc637-9W
Dr. Godman

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the area in square kilometres of water bounded by the United Kingdom fishing limits; how many (a) vessels and (b) aircraft are available to

Mr. Gummer

I shall write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Hardy

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that there is adequate supervision and effective management of intervention arrangements as far as food surpluses held in the United Kingdom are concerned;

(2) if he is satisfied that the management of stocks of cereal surpluses in intervention stores is and has been of adequate competence; and if he will make a statement;

(3) what checks are carried out, prior to the approval of companies and premises for storage of intervention stocks of cereals, as to the quality of their staff's equipment and experience; and if he will make a statement;

(4) what is his estimate of the size of the stock of cereal held in intervention within the United Kingdom; and on how many sites these stocks are held;

(5) how many prosecutions have been initiated in regard to the adulteration of cereal stocks in intervention stores during the last seven years; and if any further prosecutions are currently envisaged;

(6) if he will investigate reports that silica sand had been added to cereal stocks held in intervention; arid if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

I shall write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions companies involved in holding intervention stocks of agricultural produce have been found to be in financial difficulties; how many have gone into liquidation or are threatened with it; and if he will name the companies involved and state in each case the action taken by officials to safeguard public money and the amount of public money that has been or is likely to be lost as a result of the liquidations that have taken, or are likely to take, place.

Mr. Gummer

[pursuant to his reply, 4 November 1986, c. 419]: Details of the companies which went into liquidation are given below. Other information held by the Intervention Board on companies' financial affairs is commercially confidential.

police those waters; what estimate he has of the average number of fishing vessels active in United Kingdom waters; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

The total sea area within British fishing limits is 581,584 sq km. It is not possible to give a precise estimate of the average number of fishing vessels active in United Kingdom waters but our approximate estimate is between 300 and 500 vessels at any given time, depending on seasonal patterns of fishing and the weather. The Royal Navy fishery protection squadron comprises 13 ships, which are deployed with the aim of securing continuous coverage throughout the year equivalent to 4.7 ships on station. In addition, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland operate four offshore and three inshore patrol vessels to the west of Scotland. At the present time four aircraft are available for inshore and offshore surveillance.

The United Kingdom fishery protection services are widely recognised as doing a magnificent job and the surveillance and enforcement of fisheries legislation within British fishery limits are among the best in the world.