§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current total number of fishing stock licences held in Scotland by(a) individuals, (b) share/joint owners and (c) companies; and if he will give comparative totals for each year for which such statistics are available.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythNumbers of pressure stock and non-pressure stock licence holders in Scotland are available for 1987 and 1988. Details are shown in the table.
Individuals Joint owners Companies PSL Non PSL PSL Non PSL PSL Non PSL 1988 262 78 865 25 48 2 1987 268 78 885 25 44 2 Where companies, for example fish selling companies, hold a minor share in a vessel, together with an individual or individuals, such licences are shown under joint ownership.
It should also be noted that, in a few cases, the company holding the licence is composed entirely of the crew of the vessel or of the skipper and family.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average current cost of purchasing a stock licence for a fishing vessel of(a) an under 40 ft boat and (b) an under 80 ft boat; and what have the comparative figures been in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThere are a number of conditions that have to be fulfilled before a fisherman can obtain licences to catch certain fish stocks. If my officials, and those of other fisheries Departments, are content that these conditions have been met, appropriate licences are issued without cost to the fisherman concerned.