To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the British quota for white fish is allocated across the (a) over 10 m and (b) under 10 m sectors of the British fishing industry in England. (98107)

At the beginning of each year, the United Kingdom receives a fixed percentage of the total allowable catch for each quota stock. Fisheries Administrations then calculate the UK quota which will be distributed to producer organisations and most other groups based on the aggregate of the fixed quota allocations (FQA) units held by members within each group. The membership of producer organisations mainly involves over 10 m vessels. Members of the under 10 m fleet, which fish against the under 10 m pool of quota, do not hold FQA units with their licences. Instead, units are held on a nominal “dummy” licence and the aggregate of these are used to calculate the opening allocation for these vessels. Some adjustments are then made to the quota which members might otherwise receive to boost their share of the UK quota for certain stocks before their opening quota is set.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fishing vessels are registered in the UK fishing industry; and what estimated number is in the (a) over 10 m and (b) under 10 m sector. (98142)

On 1 September 2006, there were 5,977 fishing vessels registered and licensed in the United Kingdom (excluding Islands). Of these, 1,458 were over 10 m in length and 4,519 were 10 m or under in length.