§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent estimate he has made of the anticipated costs of meeting the claims arising from the ruling over the Factortame case brought by owners of flag of convenience vessels. [146272]
§ Mr. MorleyThirteen claims brought by the owners of fishing vessels unlawfully removed from the UK Register in 1989 were settled for £10 million during the first half of 2000. Claims from the remaining vessel owners and their managing agents are in the process of settlement and an announcement about the overall cost will be made once all the claims have been dealt with.