asked the Minister for the Marine in respect of the State agencies directly under his aegis, the action which they have taken to establish a five-year development plan to develop overseas services on a consultancy basis relating to the skills and experience of the State agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter indicating (a) the number of contracts, if any, which have been obtained and (b) the approximate value of the work which has been obtained.
Written Answers. - State Agencies Overseas Services.
172.
The only agency under my aegis which has to date engaged in overseas consultancy is BIM. Overseas consultancy services provided by BIM range from marine technical, training and education through to marketing in respect of fisheries and fish farming.
Since 1983 BIM has undertaken six overseas assignments, the total value of which was £148,000. As part of the Development Strategy for the Seafish Industry 1988-91, recently announced, BIM proposes to examine all possibilities for further developing its consultancy services overseas.