HC Deb 15 January 1996 vol 269 cc458-9W
Mr. David Porter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the size of the fishing industry on 1 January 1996(a) by tonnage, (b) by number of registered vessels, (c) by number of people employed directly and (d) by number of people employed indirectly; what estimate he has made in respect of (a) to (d) for 1 January 2003; and if he will make a statement. [8367]

Mr. Baldry

The latest available information is published in table 2:1 and 2:6 of the "UK Sea Fisheries Statistics", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Information on the number of people indirectly employed in the fishing industry is not available. We have not made any comparable estimates for the year 2003.

Mr. Porter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to protect the livelihoods of fishermen using small, open boats from beaches for less than a day at a time; and if he will make a statement. [8368]

Mr. Baldry

Quota allocations are set aside for the under 10m fleet and these have been underpinned since 1994.

Mr. Porter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to apply the same principle to fishing and the European Court of Justice as the German constitutional court; and if he will make a statement. [8390]

Mr. Baldry

I have no plans to do so. All member states are obliged to abide by the rulings of the European Court of Justice.