asked the Secretary of State for Defence why fishermen on vessels requisitioned for minesweeping were not given the same opportunity to volunteer for service as merchant seamen on requisitioned vessels.

Unlike the merchant ships that have been taken up from trade to perform support and service tasks, the fishing vessels requisitioned as auxiliary minesweepers have been temporarily commissioned into the Royal Navy. As the vessels are to be engaged on a specialist and potentially dangerous task, it was decided that they should be manned by Royal Navy personnel experienced in this role.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis fishermen made unemployed by the requisitioning of vessels for the Falklands will be compensated; and whether their catch share will be taken into account in calculating such compensation.

The question of compensation is being discussed as a matter of urgency with the shipowners concerned.