HC Deb 24 March 1995 vol 257 cc372-4W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fishing vessels are estimated to be involved in the catching of nephrops; and how many of these vessels previously caught white fish. [15124]

Mr. Ancram

In the Northern Ireland fleet 184 vessels of over 10 m in length landed nephrops during 1994. While fishing for nephrops, there is an inevitable by-catch of white fish and all these vessels caught white fish.

Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the 18 projects grant-aided in 1992–93 by the EC Commission in the fishing industry in Northern Ireland as described in "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97", section 5.22. [15428]

Mr. Ancram

The 18 projects grant-aided in 1992–93 by the EC Commission in the fishing industry in Northern Ireland are set out in the table.

Payments made under regulation EEC 4028/86 in 1992–93
Project number Type of project Payment made £
UK/212/89/02 Vessel modernisation 7,350
UK/8/91/01 Vessel modernisation 7,490
UK/9/91/01 Vessel modernisation 22,625
UK/10/91/01 Vessel modernisation 5,950
UK/12/91/01 Vessel modernisation 13,510
UK/13/91/01 Vessel modernisation 8,043
UK/14/91/01 Vessel modernisation 14,950
UK/44/91/01 Aquaculture unit construction 4,148
UK/45/91/01 Aquaculture unit construction 10,686
UK/66/91/02 Vessel modernisation 28,131
UK/67/91/02 Vessel modernisation 12,500

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
Tuberculosis 2,493 3,124 4,108 4,601 6,241 5,286
Brucellosis 34 23 122 27 3 20
Salmonella (poultry flocks) 47 26 65 25 11 20
Salmonella (other species) 238 193 131 198 148 134
Sheep scab 14 36 46 59 48 71
Johne's Disease 8 26 25 13 6 11
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy 30 100 170 333 487 363
Enzootic abortions in ewes n/a n/a n/a n/a 24 56

Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of epizootic disease in animals have been diagnosed in Northern Ireland each year since 1989; and when he projects the eradication of this disease. [15405]

Mr. Ancram

Epizootic disease is the term used to describe any highly infectious disease which affects a large number of animals in a wide area at the same time and spreads with great rapidity.

Since 1989 the only instances of epizootic disease in Northern Ireland was in 1991 when six cases of Newcastle disease occurred in poultry.

Action continues to be taken to prevent the introduction of any epizootic disease of animals or poultry into Northern Ireland.

Mr. Morley

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of cases of ectoparasitic infestation in sheep for(a) the two years before compulsory dipping was abolished and (b) the two years since compulsory dipping has been abolished. [14567]

Payments made under regulation EEC 4028/86 in 1992–93
Project number Type of project Payment made £
UK/68/91/02 Vessel modernisation 8,760
(86,800
UK/74/91/02 Aquaculture unit construction (48,318
UK/16/92/01 Vessel modernisation 23,610
UK/17/92/01 Vessel modernisation 26,204
UK/19/92/01 Vessel modernisation 48,091
UK/20/92/01 Vessel modernisation 18,283
UK/22/92/01 Vessel modernisation 18,425