To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount of public expenditure by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries Division, on the stocking of rivers and lakes with fish, in each year since 1980; and if he will give details by district council area.

[holding answer 7 December 1989]: Spending by the Department of Agriculture on the stocking of the Department's public angling waters since 1980 has been:

Financial year	Total expenditure on stocking £
1980–81	60,630
1981–82	50,490
1982–83	53,034
1983–84	69,093
1984–85	90,199
1985–86	149,711
1986–87	156,294
1987–88	107,243
1988–89	124,437

It is not possible to allocate expenditure on stocking to individual district council areas as the information is not held in the form requested and it could only be provided at disproportionate cost.