13. Mr. W. H. K. Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications for building grants for inshore fishing vessels for building in foreign yards have been approved; and what is the total sum involved.
§ Mr. HoyI am informed that 23 applications for grant for inshore and herring fishing vessels to be built in foreign yards have been approved by the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board since the commencement of the present Fishing Vessels Grants Scheme in 1967. Grant for these vessels is estimated to total £456,000.
Mr. BakerIs the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the money is being well spent? In other words, are we getting value for money from this sort of operation? Would it not be better to concentrate the building of these vessels in British yards?
§ Mr. HoyNinety per cent. of the vessels are built in British yards. Tenders are called for from three yards as well as from a foreign yard before approval is given. If we think, or the Minister of Technology thinks, that a subsidy is attached to a vessel being built in a foreign yard, he takes steps to cut the grant by nearly half.