HL Deb 24 January 1985 vol 459 cc426-7

6.20 p.m.

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I beg to move that the scheme laid before the House on 3rd December 1984 be approved.

The purpose of this statutory instrument is to extend for a further period of two years the scheme of Exchequer grants towards the cost of constructing and improving fishing vessels. The scheme will continue to be administered by the Sea Fish Industry Authority as the Government's agent.

The new instrument does not alter in any way the structure of the scheme as it has applied in recent years. Nor does it change the rate of grant of 25 per cent. of the approved costs of building new fishing vessels and modernising existing ones. This instrument simply extends the closing date, by which applications for payment of grant must be approved, for a further two years to 1st January 1987.

The grants scheme provides incentives for the rejuvenation of our fishing fleet by assisting owners to bring new and better-equipped vessels into service and to modernise existing boats. The original scheme—which we are now extending—ran for three years, during which time over £18 million was approved by way of grants to owners. In addition, the scheme provides the national grant element which is needed to enable our fishermen to be eligible for additional assistance from the European Community, and over the past three years this has meant a further £8 million of grants being awarded to United Kingdom fishermen.

This two-year extension of the scheme gives the fishing industry a further period in which to re-equip itself, and, as it sees fit, to take advantage of the available fishing opportunities. It also brings the period during which the scheme will operate into line with those for the restructuring measures introduced early last year. This is a scheme which brings much benefit to our fishermen and one for which I believe there is still a need in the period ahead. I beg to move.

Moved, That the scheme laid before the House on 3rd December 1984 be approved.—(Lord Belstead.)

Lord John-Mackie

My Lords, I thank the Minister for putting forward this scheme which advances the date to 1987 when these grants will be available. The noble Lord said that £18 million had been paid out and that the Government were anticipating paying out another £8 million this year. I am sure that we all appreciate the need for these grants to the fishing industry, and I certainly have no objections to or criticisms of this scheme, although I warn the Minister that I shall have some on the next order which he is about to move.

On Question, Motion agreed to.