§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show how much of(a) the staff and (b) the finances made available to the newly formed merger of fisheries research laboratory staff will be dedicated to (i) the research vessel Lough Foyle, (ii) marine fish stock assessment, (iii) other marine research, (iv) research on the river Bush and (v) other fresh water research.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomley[holding answer 20 March 1990]: Information in the form requested is not available. The areas identified are continuing to receive attention as previously, with intensification of effort planned for marine science and fish stock assessment being met with additional resources.
The balance of future effort in each area will reflect perceived priorities of the policy/scientific needs of the Department of Agriculture.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the daily running costs of the research vessel Lough Foyle when it is in berth at Belfast.
147W
§ Mr. Peter Bottomley[holding answer 20 March 1990]: The marginal cost of the vessel in port is estimated at £600 per day.