§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the size of the United Kingdom fleet of fishing vessels in each of the past 10 years.
United Kingdom fishing fleet 1979–88 by length group1 as at 31 December of each year 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 19882 Under 40 ft 4,878 4,512 4,970 4,485 5,023 5,433 5,868 6,305 6,251 6,260 40–79.9 ft 2,092 2,132 2,136 2,073 1,976 1,934 1,852 1,642 1,700 1,731 80–109.9 ft 111 114 119 120 124 128 126 131 149 159 110–139.9 ft 103 86 88 86 78 76 60 71 81 86 140 ft+ 58 51 38 33 29 13 14 17 23 28 Total 7,242 6,895 7,351 6,797 7,230 7,584 7,920 8,166 8,204 8,264 1 Changes in the number of under 40 ft vessels are due partly to changes in the definitions used for this sector of the fleet. 2 Provisional. The figures relate to active commercial fishing vessels.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the extent of the required reduction of the United Kingdom's fishing fleet in percentage terms and actual number of vessels under the multi-annual guidance programme over the next three years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe required reductions during each calendar year in terms of tonnage and engine power are as follows:
1989 1990 1991 Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Gross registered tons 15,575 9 10,895 7 8,716 6 Engine power (Kw) 52,353 6 46,368 6 37,095 5