§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the value of angling to the Northern Ireland economy; how many tourists participated in angling in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; and what his latest estimate is of how many Northern Ireland residents participate in angling in Northern Ireland. [123469]
§ Angela SmithNo assessment has been made of the value of angling to the Northern Ireland economy. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board estimates that the value 203W of trips which included an angling element was £4.88 million in 2002. In the five-year period 1998 to 2002, the estimated numbers of tourists participating in angling in Northern Ireland based on rod licence sales are as follows:
Number 2002 3,894 2001 3,666 2000 3,855 1999 5,254 1998 4,807 The estimated number of Northern Ireland residents participating in angling in Northern Ireland based on rod licence sales is 23,125. This figure does not include a small number of anglers participating in sea angling as no licence is required for sea fish angling.