§ Mr. HarrisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the increase in the value of United Kingdom fish landings by United Kingdom vessels in comparison with the retail prices index in the period 1980 to 1990; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerIn 1989 the value of United Kingdom fish landings by United Kingdom vessels was £396 million. This was 78 per cent. higher than in 1980 and compares with an increase of 72 per cent. in the RPI during the same period. The latest provisional figures for 1990 suggest that the value of these landings has kept pace with the increase in the RPI.
In the fisheries debate on 13 December 1990 I may have inadvertently misled the House when responding to a point made by the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) by referring at column 1180 to individual years rather than to the period as a whole.