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20 Jan 2009 : Column 1284W—continued


Estimated discards of west of Scotland stocks by vessels registered in Scotland, 1998 to 2007
Tonnes
Species

Cod Haddock Whiting

1998

289

4,801

4,232

1999

62

4,060

2,015

2000

410

6,875

4,831

2001

139

6,087

1,561

2002

110

7,151

1,257

2003

27

3,649

1,283

2004

56

4,072

2,445

2005

45

2,677

828

2006

322

4,453

647

2007

1,107

3,405

312


Number of fishing vessels registered in the UK, 1997 to 2007

Under 10 metres 10 metres+ Total

1997

2,436

6,022

8,458

1998

2,244

6,027

8,271

1999

2,123

5,916

8,039

2000

2,049

5,769

7,818

2001

2,006

5,715

7,721

2002

1,805

5,773

7,578

2003

1,684

5,412

7,096

2004

5,394

1,628

7,022

2005

5,134

1,582

6,716

2006

5,203

1,549

6,752

2007

5,236

1,527

6,763


Fishing Catches: North Sea

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the weight of discards of fish caught in the North Sea was in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by (a) nationality of fishing vessel and (b) fish type. [249170]

Huw Irranca-Davies: We do not have access to estimates of discards by nation for nations other than the UK. However estimates of total international discards, which include estimates of discards for all fleets fishing in the North sea, are available. These can be compared with the estimates of discards by UK fleets to determine the contribution of UK and other fleets to the total quantities discarded.

Estimated discards (tonnes) of North sea cod, haddock and whiting: (Estimates are given for vessels registered in Scotland (Sco), England, Wales and Northern Ireland (EWN) and for all international fleets combined (Total Int)).


20 Jan 2009 : Column 1285W

20 Jan 2009 : Column 1286W
Cod Haddock Whiting

Sco EWN Total Int. Sco EWN Total Int. Sco EWN Total Int.

1998

10,287

40,500

35,134

45,160

8,861

13,000

1999

2,991

14,200

35,270

42,598

15,563

24,000

2000

4,141

13,700

39,745

48,770

16,211

23,000

2001

4,440

13,900

86,297

118,225

8,869

16,000

2002

1,519

5,700

32,196

45,857

8,315

18,000

2003

1,086

6,400

18,555

23,691

5,931

24,000

2004

1,266

430

5,800

12,834

371

15,551

5,765

2,023

14,000

2005

1,169

604

6,300

7,412

168

8,637

5,547

683

11,000

2006

1,671

581

8,100

14,671

310

17,908

4,457

1,385

10,000

2007

11,892

221

23,600

24,671

322

31,048

3,383

541

6,000


Fishing Gear: EC Action

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures were proposed at the most recent EU Fisheries Council to reduce mesh size; and which countries (a) proposed and (b) supported each such proposal. [248987]

Huw Irranca-Davies: The only such proposal we were aware of concerned a French request to permit the exploitation of a sustainable gill net fishery in the waters to the west of Ireland, by somewhat relaxing the existing static gear restrictions in the area. This was ultimately agreed by all member states, on the grounds that the fishery was sustainable and it would not have any impact on the deep sea stocks the restrictions were intended to protect.

Fishing Vessels

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average (a) length and (b) horsepower of a UK fishing vessel is. [249047]

Huw Irranca-Davies: Based on those vessels registered as UK fishing vessels as at 31 December 2007, the average length of a UK registered fishing vessel was 9.7 metres and the average power was 127 kW.

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average age of the UK (a) under 30 foot and (b) over 30 foot fishing fleet is. [249049]

Huw Irranca-Davies: Based on those vessels registered as UK fishing vessels as at 31 December 2007, the average age of UK registered fishing vessels under 30 feet in length was 23 years. The average age of vessels over 30 feet in length was also 23 years.

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many UK fishing vessels were built in 2008; and what their total tonnage is. [249052]

Huw Irranca-Davies: Of those vessels entering the UK fishing fleet during 2008, sixty three were actually built during 2008, with a gross tonnage of 6,168 tonnes.

Floods and Water Bill

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to publish the draft Floods and Water Bill. [249497]

Huw Irranca-Davies: I refer my hon. Friend to my previous reply of 9 December 2008, Official Report, column 39W.

Landfill Tax: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been paid in Landfill Tax by each London authority in each year since its introduction in 2002; and if he will make a statement. [247811]

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.

It is not possible using landfill tax receipts data to determine how much revenue is received from local authorities. This is because registered landfill site operators pay the tax to HM Revenue and Customs and pass on the cost to their customers through the disposal charges they set. The origin of the landfilled waste is not recorded on the tax return.


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