§ Dr. Jack CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the policy of her Department to allow the Environment Agency to(a) reduce the resources devoted to freshwater fisheries and (b) increase expenditure on other aspects of the agency's work; and if she will make a statement. [52482]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 29 April 2002]: The controls on financial, staffing and related matters are defined in the Environment Agency Financial Memorandum, prepared by DEFRA and the National Assembly for Wales and agreed with the agency. Revenue from rod and net licence duties, together with this Department's fisheries grant-in-aid are used for salmon and freshwater fisheries purposes only, unless otherwise agreed.
§ Dr. Jack CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to ensure that the Environment Agency BRITE proposals do not result in a transfer of funding and manpower from freshwater fisheries activities to other areas of the agency's responsibilities; and if she will make a statement. 152483]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 29 April 2002]: I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 18 March 2002, Official Report, column 129W.