European Community (Fishing Subsidies)

Mr. Austin Mitchell
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will intiate inquiries to allow the publication in the Official Report of a complete survey of all governmental aid and subsidies to fishing in other Common Market countries.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The Government are aware of the main features of the measures taken by other Governments in the European Community to help their fishing industries. It would, however, be a major task to prepare a fully comprehensive survey of all the national, regional and local measures which could be considered to be direct or indirect aids or subsidies to the industry in a form appropriate for publication. I would not regard this as an appropriate use of my Department's limited resources.