§ Mr. AllasonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many ships in Britain's registered fishing fleet are Spanish owned.
§ Mr. NorrisI have been asked to reply.
This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Rupert Allason, dated 30 January 1995:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question, originally tabled for reply by the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, about Spanish-owned vessels in the British-registered fishing fleet.I have to explain that this information is not available. Following the coming into force on 21 March 1994 of the Merchant Shipping (Registration Ships) Regulations 1993, the only eligibility requirement for companies wishing to register fishing vessels on the UK register is that they be incorporated in a member State of the European Economic Area with a place of business in the United Kingdom. Therefore it is no longer necessary for the Register of Ships and Seamen to know the nationality of shareholders and thus the information you require is not collected.