HC Deb 17 June 1997 vol 296 cc153-4W
Mr. Doran

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what income from the statutory levy on first-hand sale of fish was received by the Seafish Industry Authority in the last full year for which figures are available; what quantities this represented for each species governed by quota regulations; and whether these figures for quantities sold were in line with recorded landings of each of those species. [3652]

Mr. Morley

The amount of levy received by the Sea Fish Industry Authority (SFIA) in the financial year 1996–97 is as follows:

1996–97 levy received by value
£
Whitefish 5,686,499
Pelagic 401,848
Shellfish 1,258.792
Cockles etc. 65,684
Fishmeal 336,449
Total 7.749.272

Levy is collected on first-hand sales of fish in the UK according to the method of its presentation on the market. Records of the levy collected by SFIA on such sales are not kept in a format that would enable the income to be broken down by species and compared with recorded landings.

Mr. Doran

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions inspectors from his Department stopped and checked overland consignments of fish from other ports to the fish market at Grimsby in the last year for which figures are available; and on how many occasions charges were brought for breaches of quota legislation. [3653]

Mr. Morley

Over the last 12 months specific checks have been carried out on 14 consignments of fish brought overland to Grimsby pursuant to Article 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2847/93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy. There have been no prosecutions to date.