Mr. Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many angling development officer posts the Environment Agency are funding over the next three years; and if she will make a statement. [111927]
§ Mr. MeacherThere are currently six fisheries development officers in England and Wales who are tasked with developing and supporting projects to develop fisheries, including angling. Another post is being considered for 2004–05, but no further posts are anticipated.
Mr. Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money was allocated by the Environment Agency to encourage participation in angling in each of the last five years; how much the Agency has allocated for each of the next three years; and if she will make a statement. [111928]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Agency does not specifically allocate funds for the promotion of angling, although the Agencys work to improve fisheries will encourage further participation. The Agencys fisheries expenditure from 1998–99 to 2005–06 is as follows:
Expenditure (£ million) 1998–99 21.0 1999–2000 22.2 2000–01 22.4 2001–02 21.4 2002–03 26.5 2003–041 27.2 2004–051 27.8 2005–061 28.4 1 Estimated expenditure.