Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 30 January 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 10 February 1998. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 February 1998 on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Question: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what correspondence his Department has had with objectors to the extension of the Calshot Oyster Fisheries since 1st June; what was the nature of the correspondence; what are the bases for the objections; and if he will make the correspondence available to the Calshot Oyster Fishermen Ltd.

Answer: Mr. Hancock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what correspondence his Department has had with objectors to the extension of the Calshot Oyster Fisheries since 1 June; what was the nature of the correspondence; what are the bases for the objections; and if he will make the correspondence available to the Calshot Oyster Fishermen Ltd. [27388] Mr. Morley: The objections to the proposed Calshot Oyster Fishery (Variation) Order are primarily concerned with the potential loss of earnings, although there were also objections on the grounds that it would make enforcement more difficult and also to the principle of such fishery Orders. My officials wrote to the 7 objectors requesting further information. Three replies were received, one of which was considered irrelevant. The two other letters contained a more exact figure of the potential loss of earnings as a result of the extension of the fishery. The author of one of these letters expressed the wish for it to be kept confidential whilst the other letter will be made available to Calshot Oyster Fishermen Ltd.

Secondary information