asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Rooker on 8 November (WA 183) and 13 December (WA 206), whether the Fisheries Conservancy Board’s patrols on Lough Neagh are operationally efficient; and, in light of the proportion of boat patrols claimed that were incorrectly logged, they will take punitive or remedial action. [HL1116]

Patrols on Lough Neagh are the responsibility of the Fisheries Conservancy Board, which carries out patrol activity within operational budgets and the income available to it. In response to concerns that there has been a lack of enforcement patrols in 2006, DCAL staff have been made available to FCB to assist in carrying out such patrols. The department has written to the chief executive of FCB strongly emphasising the importance of providing accurate information in response to Parliamentary Questions and has sought and received details of measures taken by FCB to avoid a recurrence. Any further disciplinary action will be the responsibility of the board.