Written answers
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Angling: Expenditure
Bill Wiggin (Leominster, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will provide a detailed breakdown of his Department's expenditure on fisheries improvements for anglers in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs) and Minister for the South East), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency receives fisheries-specific funding from the Government amounting to £9.5 million per annum. The Environment Agency also receives income from the sale of licences from anglers and netsmen amounting to nearly £21.5 million per annum.

This income funds a range of activities and fisheries improvements at regional and national level, which are of benefit to anglers. This includes the monitoring of fish stocks, investigation and remediation of incidents affecting fish such as disease, drought, pollution and floods; provision of advice on the development and improvement of fisheries, as well as the regulation of fishing through a licensing system which helps protect the resource for the future.

The Environment Agency fisheries budget specifically allocates a national improvement and development project budget to fund projects that improve fisheries habitat, facilities and access for anglers. Many of these projects are undertaken in partnership with other organisations, usually leading to relatively highly-geared expenditure by partners on fisheries improvements.

The following table provides overall expenditure on fisheries over the past five years together with national improvement and development project budget.

£ million
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
Total regional expenditure on fisheries 18.2 19.4 19.5 19.7 20.8
Total national expenditure on fisheries 8.2 8.8 8.9 9.5 10.5
Overall expenditure on fisheries 26.4 28.2 28.4 29.2 31.3

National improvement and development project budget 1.7 2.1 2.5 2.2 2.4

The national improvement and development project budget in the overall total is part of the regional expenditure on fisheries.

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Bill Wiggin (Leominster, Conservative) | Hansard source

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's expenditure was on angling in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) region and ( local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs) and Minister for the South East), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The following table shows the expenditure broken down by each Environment Agency region. The Environment Agency does not break down expenditure by local authority area.

Regional fisheries expenditure
£000
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
North East 2,693 2,851 2,737 2,808 2,827
North West 2,813 3,024 3,024 3,057 3,072
Wales 3,296 4,171 4,210 4,246 4,251
Midlands 2,036 2,283 2,445 2,449 2,488
Anglian 1,747 1,816 1,794 1,875 2,029
Thames 1,827 1,832 1,812 1,860 1,903
Southern 1,488 1,589 1,581 1,612 1,623
South West 2,276 2,620 2,659 2,582 2,594
Total 18,176 19,386 19,462 19,689 20,787

The following table shows National Fisheries expenditure. This includes operational activities which have been centralised as part of the Environment Agency's efficiency programme. The Environment Agency's technical team supports the Fisheries Policy and Process team in setting the targets and delivery mechanisms for the regional activities and expenditure. Contributions to Head Office support service costs and IS development and maintenance are also included.

National fisheries expenditure
£000
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
Total 8,204 8,751 8,858 9,475 10,480


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Bill Wiggin (Leominster, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the (a) administration and ( enforcement costs of the freshwater angling licensing regime in the last five years; how many staff were involved in each year; what their total salaries were in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs) and Minister for the South East), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) | Hansard source
The cost of administering the rod licence system for each of the last five years is shown in the following table. The figures include Environment Agency staff expenditure, the printing of licences and sales transaction costs.

Rod licence administration cost
Cost (£ million)
2003-04 1.41
2004-05 1.49
2005-06 1.58
2006-07 1.64
2007-08 1.72

There are 280 Environment Agency staff warranted to undertake rod licence enforcement. Rod licence checking only forms a part of the role, so salary costs are worked out according to the proportion of time spent on this activity. While carrying out rod licence checks, these staff also carry out other regulatory activities such as ensuring compliance with fishery byelaws and regulating other licensing systems. Their other warranted activities include auditing and investigating fish introductions to prevent the spread of disease and non native species. The current annual salary cost of enforcing the rod licence is around £1 million. This has not changed significantly during the last five years.



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Bill Wiggin (Leominster, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was raised by angling licences in each year since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs) and Minister for the South East), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) | Hansard source
The following table shows rod licence income since 1997.

Licence year Rod licence income (£ million)
1997-1998 13.5
1998-1999 13.0
1999-2000 14.2
2000-01 14.4
2001-02 14.9
2002-03 16.1
2003-04 17.6
2004-05 18.6
2005-06 19.7
2006-07 20.5
2007-08 21.5

Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Angling: Licensing

Mark Harper (Shadow Minister, Work & Pensions; Forest of Dean, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) full and ( concessionary cost of a (i) coarse and trout and (ii) salmon and sea trout rod licence was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs) and Minister for the South East), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Chatham & Aylesford, Labour)
The following table shows the full and concessionary cost of a (i) non-migratory trout and coarse and (ii) salmon and sea trout licence in each of the last five years.

£
Salmon and sea trout Non migratory trout and coarse fish
Full Concessionary Full Concessionary
2004-05 62.00 31.00 23.00 11.50
2005-06 63.50 31.75 23.50 11.75
2006-07 65.00 32.50 24.00 12.00
2007-08 66.50 33.35 24.50 12.25
2008-09 68.00 45.00 25.00 16.75

I should point out that the Environment Agency is under no legal obligation to offer rod licences to any class of persons at concessionary duty rates. Both the agency and I recognise that the increase in concessionary duty rates for this year is significant and the agency has publicly stated that it will use a significant proportion of the monies raised by the higher duty rates to improve access to angling for the disabled and senior anglers. I welcome this and I will seek evidence from the agency that it has honoured that commitment.

Bill Wiggin (Shadow Minister, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Leominster, Conservative)

While the Prime Minister is on the subject of disabled people, may I ask whether he is aware that Labour's attack on vulnerable people has been extended to disabled anglers? They have seen the cost of their fishing licence go up by 37 per cent., as opposed to 2 per cent. for able-bodied people—if, that is, they can find a post office from which to buy one

Gordon Brown (Prime Minister; Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath, Labour)

I will look at the facts that the hon. Gentleman brings before us and see what has happened to bring that about. However, I have to say to him that this Government have invested in rural communities, and on post offices we are making £1.7 billion available.

Mark Harper (Shadow Minister, Work & Pensions; Forest of Dean, Conservative)

Yesterday my hon. Friend the Member for Leominster (Bill Wiggin) raised with the Prime Minister the fact that the cost of a fishing licence for a disabled angler has increased by 37 per cent. in the past year. The Prime Minister undertook to find out the reasons for that. I wonder whether the Minister could furnish them to the House.



Jonathan R Shaw (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs) and Minister for the South East), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Chatham & Aylesford, Labour)

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. The licence for people with disabilities has increased by 33 per cent. Licences are a contribution towards ensuring that the fisheries are accessible, so that people can enjoy this wonderful sport. The Environment Agency has told me that a substantial amount of that money will go towards ensuring more access for people with disabilities. Someone without a disability has access to all the rivers and banks; someone with a disability does not. I have told the Environment Agency that it needs to use a substantial amount of that money to improve the opportunities for people with disabilities to enjoy the wonderful sport of fishing, and I will hold it to that.

Written answers

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Angling: Licenses

Bill Wiggin (Shadow Minister, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Leominster, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the fees for (a) non-migratory coarse and trout and ( salmon and sea trout rod licences were in each year since 1997, broken down by category of applicant.

Jonathan R Shaw (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs) and Minister for the South East), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Chatham & Aylesford, Labour)
Rod licence duties for the years 1997-08 to 2008-09 are shown in the following table.
£
Non-migratory trout and coarse fish Salmon and sea trout
Full Concession Junior 8-day 1-day Full Concession Junior 8-day 1-day
1997-08 16.00 8.00 8.00 6.00 2.00 55.00 27.50 27.50 15.00 5.00
1998-09 16.00 8.00 8.00 6.00 2.00 55.00 27.50 27.50 15.00 5.00
1999-2000 18.00 9.00 9.00 6.50 2.50 57.00 28.50 28.50 16.50 5.50
2000-01 19.00 9.50 9.50 6.50 2.50 58.00 29.00 29.00 16.50 5.50
2001-02 20.00 10.00 5.00 6.50 2.50 59.00 29.50 29.50 16.50 5.50
2002-03 21.00 10.50 5.00 6.50 2.50 60.00 30.00 30.00 16.50 5.50
2003-04 22.00 11.00 5.00 7.00 2.75 61.00 30.50 30.50 18.00 6.00
2004-05 23.00 11.50 5.00 8.00 3.00 62.00 31.00 31.00 19.50 6.50
2005-06 23.50 11.75 5.00 8.00 3.00 63.50 31.75 15.88 19.50 6.50
2006-07 24.00 12.00 5.00 8.00 3.00 65.00 32.50 16.25 19.50 6.50
2007-08 24.50 12.25 5.00 8.00 3.00 66.50 33.25 16.63 19.50 6.50
2008-09 25.00 16.75 5.00 9.00 3.50 68.00 45.00 5.00 22.00 7.50

Greg Knight (East Yorkshire, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the percentage increase was in the cost of a fishing licence for an (a) adult and ( old age pensioner in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs) and Minister for the South East), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Chatham & Aylesford, Labour)
holding answer 28 April 2008

The rod licence year starts on 1 April. Concessionary rates of rod licence duty do not apply to old age pensioners as a class, but rather to persons over the age of 65, Blue Badge holders and people in receipt of a disability living allowance.

The Environment Agency is under no legal obligation to offer rod licences to any class of persons at concessionary duty rates. Also concessionary rates are offered not because of an inability to pay, but to reflect reduced opportunities for angling available to those who are disabled or infirm.

Both the Agency and I recognise that the increase in concessionary duty rates for this year is significant. The Agency has publicly stated that it will use a significant proportion of the monies raised by the higher duty rates to improve access to angling for the disabled and senior anglers. I welcome this and will seek evidence from the Agency that it has honoured that commitment.

The percentage increase in rod licence duties between 2007-08 and 2008-09 for annual licences at full and concessionary rates is set out in the following table.

2007-08 (£) 2008-09 (£) Percentage increase
Salmon and sea trout
Full 66.50 68.00 2
Concessionary 33.25 45.00 35

Non migratory trout and coarse fish
Full 24.50 25.00 2
Concessionary 12.25 16.75 37

Written answers

Tuesday, 13 May 2008

Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Angling: Licensing

Mark Harper (Shadow Minister, Work & Pensions; Forest of Dean, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2008 , Official Report, columns 280-81W, on angling: licensing, what steps the Environment Agency is taking to improve disabled and senior anglers access to angling; and if he will make a statement.




Jonathan R Shaw (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs) and Minister for the South East), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Chatham & Aylesford, Labour)

holding answer 8 May 2008

In 2007-08, £393,000 of Environment Agency funding was provided to 37 projects involving improved access. Together with partner contributions of £665,000 this resulted in a total spend of £1.058 million.

The Environment Agency collaborated with the British Disabled Angling Association to produce comprehensive "Access Guidelines for Fisheries" on how to improve access for disabled anglers. This provides a reference point for all fishery owners on the design and issues of improving access for all.

In 2008-09, subject to achieving licence sales targets, an additional £300,000 has been allocated to improving access, giving a projected spend of £600,000. The new work includes a joint programme with representatives of Disabled Angling groups of over 100 projects to identify where access can be improved for disabled anglers in particular. There will be additional access improvements projects delivered on the ground with fishery owners.

Since 2006, the Environment Agency has produced free Angling Guides in paper and internet format. This provides information on the location of publicly accessible fisheries and whether these cater for disabled anglers.

Mark Harper (Shadow Minister, Work & Pensions; Forest of Dean, Conservative) | Hansard source

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2008, Official Report, columns 280-81W, on angling: licensing, what proportion of the monies raised by higher duty rates will be used to improve access to angling for disabled and senior anglers.

Jonathan R Shaw (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs) and Minister for the South East), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Chatham & Aylesford, Labour)
holding answer 8 May 2008

The Environment Agency spends £2 million each year on fisheries improvement projects, of which £300,000 is nominally allocated to improve access.

The forecast increased income arising from the concessionary change will be around £600,000. Subject to licence sales targets being achieved and suitable fisheries owners coming forward to work with them, it is anticipated that up to £300,000 (50 per cent.) of this extra income will be used in 2008-09 to undertake new work. This will provide a total spend of £600,000 on access improvement by the Environment Agency and its partners.