§ 7. Mr. A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed)If he will make a statement about the eligibility of Northumberland fishermen for PESCA assistance. [51692]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Elliot Morley)In the United Kingdom, aid under the PESCA Community initiative is available in areas that have been designated as fisheries dependent. There are separate PESCA sub-programmes for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and each has its own priorities for aid.
§ Mr. BeithHow can it be right that a fisherman in Eyemouth can get a substantial grant to put refrigeration in his boat when a fisherman in Amble, just down the road in Northumberland, cannot do so because MAFF interprets the rules much more restrictively than the Scottish or Northern Ireland Departments? Since the Minister has agreed to review that matter and hopes to make an announcement in a matter of weeks, can we hope for a sympathetic response; and if his response is positive, can we hope for a review of the cases that have been turned down in recent weeks?
§ Mr. MorleyWhen PESCA was set up, different regions had different priorities. The priorities that the Government inherited in the English region were based on structural aid rather than aid of the sort to which the right hon. Gentleman refers as regards Scotland. We have 522 had correspondence on the matter and I understand the case that the right hon. Gentleman makes. That is why we have agreed to review the situation as it applies to England and Scotland. Of course, we will take into account the problem that the right hon. Gentleman's constituent had to face because of the differences of approach.