§ Mr. McDonnellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of the proposed reduction in grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency in support of its fisheries work. [114436]
§ Mr. MorleyI refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) on 27 October 1999,Official Report, column 922W.
§ Mr. McDonnellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received in relation to the proposed cut in grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency in support of its fisheries work. [114435]
§ Mr. MorleyI have received representations from a number of individuals and organisations, including some 120 letters from Members of Parliament and over 60 letters from the general public.
§ Mr. McDonnellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of job losses resulting from the proposed cut in grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency in support of its fisheries work. [114434]
§ Mr. MorleyThe planned reduction in grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency to fund its work on salmon and freshwater fisheries in England will come into effect in 2001–02. It will be for the Environment Agency to determine its spending priorities for that year in the light of the fall in grant-in-aid. Until it has done this it is not possible to assess the impact of the reduction.