House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 21 Nov 2001 (pt 15)

Rural Employment

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of people between 16 and 60 years old in rural areas in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001 were active in (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) seasonal work. [15902]

Alun Michael: The percentage of people aged 16 and over in rural areas in England in full-time and part-time employment was as follows:

Year Full-time Part-time

1996 73.11 28.02

1997 73.58 26.96

1998 73.49 27.31

1999 73.44 27.67

2000 72.99 27.79

2001 73.13 28.16

Year	Full-time	Part-time
1996	73.11	28.02
1997	73.58	26.96
1998	73.49	27.31
1999	73.44	27.67
2000	72.99	27.79
2001	73.13	28.16

Reliable information on seasonal employment is not readily available.

21 Nov 2001 : Column: 328W

Market Towns

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of market towns are classified as (a) thriving, (b) stable and (c) declining at the latest date for which figures are available, stating in each case the measures used. [15901]

Alun Michael: No classification is available at present. However, The Countryside Agency has embarked on a research project to look into the health and viability of Market Towns. The project will inform on the development economic and social indicators. It is expected to report by February 2003.

Civic Amenities

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of households in the United Kingdom were within 4 km of (a) food shops, (b) post offices, (c) cash points, (d) child nurseries, (e) primary schools and (f) GP surgeries in (i) 2000 and (ii) for the latest date for which figures are available. [15905]

Alun Michael: In 2000 the percentage of rural households in England living within 4 km of services was as follows:

Foodshops (supermarkets) 79 per cent., post offices 99 per cent., cash points 79 per cent., primary schools 99 per cent., GP surgeries 86 per cent. Data are not available for child nurseries.

It should be noted that 22 per cent. of rural settlement have a general store (selling a range of household goods including basic foodstuffs) and 28 per cent. have a small village shop (a sole shop selling mainly food).

This is the latest date for which figures are available. The figures for 2001 will be reported on by the Countryside Agency in April 2002. They have a research project for child care in preparation.

Fishing

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the progress of the hake recovery programme in (a) area VII and (b) area VIII. [15871]

Mr. Morley: The European Commission adopted an emergency Regulation in June for a hake recovery plan. Some of these measures came into force on 30 June and others on 1 September. It is too early to assess their effectiveness.

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when she expects to introduce a shellfish licensing scheme for those fishing areas under her authority; [15745]

Mr. Morley: The vast majority of the 250 English and Welsh responses to the Department's consultation document supported the proposed UK restrictive licensing scheme for certain vulnerable species of shellfish, but

21 Nov 2001 : Column: 329W

there was a great diversity of views on its practical implementation. In the light of this, DEFRA officials are currently discussing the various elements with the other Fisheries Departments in the UK, with a view to an announcement on an appropriate way forward before the end of the year.

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of (a) fishing stock health and

21 Nov 2001 : Column: 330W

viability and (b) indicative quota for 2002 by (i) species and (ii) fishing area or zone. [15867]

Mr. Morley: In October the Advisory Committee on Fisheries Management (ACFM) of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) produced its latest assessment of the state of fish stocks in the north east Atlantic. A summary of the assessment and its possible implications for quota levels for 2002 of stocks of interest to the United Kingdom follows:

DEFRA interpretation of ACFM advice for TACs for 2002

Stock (species and ICES area) 2001 TAC (tonnes) 2002 TAC⁽¹⁹⁾ TAC change from 2001 to 2002 (percentage)

a b c d

Sandeels IIa NS 1,020,000 No advice —

Herring I, II 851,500 853,000 +0.2

Herring IVa, b 265,000 265,000 to 303,000 Rollover to +14.3

Herring IVc, VIId — — —

Herring Vb, VIaN, VIb 36,360 30,000 -17.5

Herring VIa (Clyde) 1,000 1,000 Rollover

Herring VIIa 6,900 6,500 -5.8

Herring VIIe, f 1,000 No advice —

Herring VIIg-k 20,000 ⁽²⁰⁾6,000 ⁽²⁰⁾-40.0

Herring IIa NS Ind. by-catch 36,000 23,000 to 50,000 -36.1 to +38.9

Cod IIa, NS 48,600 LPL —

Cod Vb, VI, XII, XIV 3,700 LPL —

Cod VIIa 2,100 LPL —

Cod VIIb-k, VIII, IX, X 10,500 7,300 -30.5

Megrim IIa NS 2,700 No advice —

Megrim Vb, VI, XII, XIV 4,360 4,360 Rollover

Megrim VII 15,000 13,000 -13.3

Dab and Flounder IIa NS 27,060 No advice —

Anglers IIa NS 14,130 10,000 -51.3

Anglers Vb, VI, XII, XIV 6,400 — —

Anglers VII 21,700 15,520 -28.5

Haddock IIa, IV 61,000 112,000 +83.6

Haddock Vb, VI, XII, XIV 13,900 15,400 +10.8

Haddock VII, VIII, IX, X 12,000 8,000 -33.3

Haddock VIIa 2,700 1,200 -55.6

Whiting IIa, NS 29,700 45,000 +51.5

Whiting Vb, VI, XII, XIV 4,000 2,000 -50.0

Whiting VIIa 1,390 LPL —

Whiting VIIb-k 21,000 32,200 +53.3

Hake IIa, NS 870 LPL —

Hake Vb, VI, VII, XII, XIV 13,920 LPL —

Blue whiting IIa NS 90,000 ⁽²¹⁾— —

Blue whiting Vb, VI, VII, XII, XIV 407,000 — —

Blue whiting VIIIabde 26,500 — —

Lemon sole and witch IIa NS 10,800 No advice —

Nephrops IIa, NS 15,480 18,470 +19.3

Nephrops Vb, VI 11,340 11,300 -0.4

Nephrops VII 18,900 17,790 -5.9

Northern prawn IIa, NS 6,504 No advice —

Plaice IIa, NS 78,000 77,000 -1.3

Plaice Vb, VI, XII, XIV 1,920 No advice —

Plaice VIIa 2,000 2,800 -40.0

Plaice VIId, e 6,000 6,690 +11.5

Plaice VIIf, g 760 680 -10.5

Plaice VIIh, j, k 1,215 No advice —

Pollack Vb, VI, XII, XIV 1,100 No advice —

Pollack VII 17,000 No advice —

Saithe IIa, IIIb, c, d, NS 87,000 135,000 +55.2

Saithe Vb, VI, XII, XIV 9,000 13,000 +44.4

Saithe VII, VIII, IX, X 5,600 No advice —

Turbot and brill IIa NS 7,200 No advice —

Skate and rays IIa NS 4,848 No advice —

Mackerel IIa(EC), III, IV 625,000 652,000 +4.3

Mackerel IIa (nonEC), Vb, VI, VII, VIIIabde, XII, XIV — — ⁽²⁰⁾DIV/0

Sole II, NS 19,000 14,300 -24.7

Sole Vb, VI, XII, VIX 140 No advice —

Sole VIIa 1,100 1,100 Rollover

Sole VIId 4,600 5,200 +13.0

Sole VIIe 600 450 -25.0

Sole VIIf, g 1,020 1,000 -2.0

Sole VIIh, j, k 650 No advice —

Sprat IIa, NS 232,000 225,000 -3.0

Sprat VIId, e 12,000 12,000 Rollover

Spurdog IIa, NS 9,070 No advice —

Horse mackerel IIa, NS 51,000 18,000 -64.7

Horse mackerel Vb, VI, VII, VIIIa, b, d, e, XII, XIV 240,000 98,000 -59.2

Stock (species and ICES area)	2001 TAC (tonnes)	2002 TAC⁽¹⁹⁾	TAC change from 2001 to 2002 (percentage)
a	b	c	d
Sandeels IIa NS	1,020,000	No advice	—
Herring I, II	851,500	853,000	+0.2
Herring IVa, b	265,000	265,000 to 303,000	Rollover to +14.3
Herring IVc, VIId	—	—	—
Herring Vb, VIaN, VIb	36,360	30,000	-17.5
Herring VIa (Clyde)	1,000	1,000	Rollover
Herring VIIa	6,900	6,500	-5.8
Herring VIIe, f	1,000	No advice	—
Herring VIIg-k	20,000	⁽²⁰⁾6,000	⁽²⁰⁾-40.0
Herring IIa NS Ind. by-catch	36,000	23,000 to 50,000	-36.1 to +38.9
Cod IIa, NS	48,600	LPL	—
Cod Vb, VI, XII, XIV	3,700	LPL	—
Cod VIIa	2,100	LPL	—
Cod VIIb-k, VIII, IX, X	10,500	7,300	-30.5
Megrim IIa NS	2,700	No advice	—
Megrim Vb, VI, XII, XIV	4,360	4,360	Rollover
Megrim VII	15,000	13,000	-13.3
Dab and Flounder IIa NS	27,060	No advice	—
Anglers IIa NS	14,130	10,000	-51.3
Anglers Vb, VI, XII, XIV	6,400	—	—
Anglers VII	21,700	15,520	-28.5
Haddock IIa, IV	61,000	112,000	+83.6
Haddock Vb, VI, XII, XIV	13,900	15,400	+10.8
Haddock VII, VIII, IX, X	12,000	8,000	-33.3
Haddock VIIa	2,700	1,200	-55.6
Whiting IIa, NS	29,700	45,000	+51.5
Whiting Vb, VI, XII, XIV	4,000	2,000	-50.0
Whiting VIIa	1,390	LPL	—
Whiting VIIb-k	21,000	32,200	+53.3
Hake IIa, NS	870	LPL	—
Hake Vb, VI, VII, XII, XIV	13,920	LPL	—
Blue whiting IIa NS	90,000	⁽²¹⁾—	—
Blue whiting Vb, VI, VII, XII, XIV	407,000	—	—
Blue whiting VIIIabde	26,500	—	—
Lemon sole and witch IIa NS	10,800	No advice	—
Nephrops IIa, NS	15,480	18,470	+19.3
Nephrops Vb, VI	11,340	11,300	-0.4
Nephrops VII	18,900	17,790	-5.9
Northern prawn IIa, NS	6,504	No advice	—
Plaice IIa, NS	78,000	77,000	-1.3
Plaice Vb, VI, XII, XIV	1,920	No advice	—
Plaice VIIa	2,000	2,800	-40.0
Plaice VIId, e	6,000	6,690	+11.5
Plaice VIIf, g	760	680	-10.5
Plaice VIIh, j, k	1,215	No advice	—
Pollack Vb, VI, XII, XIV	1,100	No advice	—
Pollack VII	17,000	No advice	—
Saithe IIa, IIIb, c, d, NS	87,000	135,000	+55.2
Saithe Vb, VI, XII, XIV	9,000	13,000	+44.4
Saithe VII, VIII, IX, X	5,600	No advice	—
Turbot and brill IIa NS	7,200	No advice	—
Skate and rays IIa NS	4,848	No advice	—
Mackerel IIa(EC), III, IV	625,000	652,000	+4.3
Mackerel IIa (nonEC), Vb, VI, VII, VIIIabde, XII, XIV	—	—	⁽²⁰⁾DIV/0
Sole II, NS	19,000	14,300	-24.7
Sole Vb, VI, XII, VIX	140	No advice	—
Sole VIIa	1,100	1,100	Rollover
Sole VIId	4,600	5,200	+13.0
Sole VIIe	600	450	-25.0
Sole VIIf, g	1,020	1,000	-2.0
Sole VIIh, j, k	650	No advice	—
Sprat IIa, NS	232,000	225,000	-3.0
Sprat VIId, e	12,000	12,000	Rollover
Spurdog IIa, NS	9,070	No advice	—
Horse mackerel IIa, NS	51,000	18,000	-64.7
Horse mackerel Vb, VI, VII, VIIIa, b, d, e, XII, XIV	240,000	98,000	-59.2

⁽¹⁹⁾ As recommended by ACFM (tonnes)

⁽²⁰⁾ TAC recommendation for first half of 2002 only. ICES will provide a

⁽²¹⁾ Closure until a rebuilding plan is agreed

Note:

LPL—Lowest Possible Limit

21 Nov 2001 : Column: 331W

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of progress in meeting the objectives of the cod recovery programme in the North sea. [15870]

Mr. Morley: Good progress has been made. Commission Regulation 259/2001 established areas which are closed to most types of fishing between 14 February and 30 April 2001 to allow the maximum possible number of cod to spawn. We will not be able to asses how successful this has been before spring 2003 when the cod spawned should be large enough to be found in significant numbers in ground fish surveys.

The second part of the cod recovery plan puts in place a package of longer term technical conservation measures to promote recovery of North sea cod. These measures come into effect on 1 January 2002.

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to extend the work of the (a) Irish Sea Management Committee, (b) cod recovery programme and (c) hake recovery programme. [15868]

Mr. Morley: We are not aware of an Irish Sea Management Committee. Fisheries are managed at European Union level under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

The Government, with UK fishermen, played a significant role in reaching agreement within the EU on packages of measures to promote recovery of Irish sea, North sea and West of Scotland cod and Northern hake.

We expect proposals shortly from the Commission for further measures on recovery of hake and cod and stand ready to play a full part in negotiating them.

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