HC Deb 20 February 1990 vol 167 cc680-1W
Mr. David Porter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has had any representations about claims by official receivers that pressure stock licences given to individuals under entitlement are company rather than individual assets; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Curry

I have not received any representations in these terms. Fisheries Departments issue licences both to individuals and to companies in respect of named vessels. Most licences are transferable between vessels and between owners, provided that conditions attached to licence transfer are met. Transferable licences thus acquire a financial value and can be either company or individual assets, depending on the particular circumstances.

Mr. David Porter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to review the scope and wording of pressure stock licences.

Mr. Curry

The scope and wording of pressure stock licences are kept under constant review.

Mr. David Porter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the legal status of all pressure stock licences; and if he has any further plans to review the future of the licensing regime.

Mr. Curry

Pressure stock licences are granted at the discretion of Fisheries Ministers, and within an announced framework of rules, using powers from section 4 of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967, as amended, and the Sea Fish (Licensing) Order 1989, as amended. The licensing scheme is kept under constant review.

Mr. David Porter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the monetary value of pressure stock licences that his Department assumes when licences are given to or acquired by individuals under entitlement.

Mr. Curry

Pressure stock licences acquire monetary value in so far as they are transferable between vessels and between owners. These values are matters for the buyers and sellers concerned and my Department makes no assumptions about them.

Mr. David Porter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what distinction his Department draws between the monetary values of pressure stock licences held by individuals and those by companies; and what assessment he has made of the level of trading in licences which takes place.

Mr. Curry

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to his separate question on the value of licences. Under the current rules, licences can only be transferred between owners upon application to the Fisheries Departments when the vessel to which the licence applies is sold. Vessels are regularly traded both by companies and individuals, and the prices set are matters for negotiation between the individuals or companies concerned.