§ 58. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications have been received for grants for the provision of fishing vessels since 27th October, 1970; what is their total value; how many have been granted how many decisions were delayed or refused; what explanations he has given; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PriorThese grants are administered by the White Fish Authority and Herring Industry Board who tell me that by the end of March some 700 such applications had been received in Great Britain, though none have as yet been approved. I am informed, however, that it would not be practicable to provide the other detailed information in the form requested.
Approvals were deferred until the Fishing Vessels (Acquisition and Improvement) (Grants) (Amendment) Scheme, 1970, could be brought into operation. Differing views, however, were taken of that Scheme by the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments of this House and by another place and the Special Orders Committee there, and my right hon. Friends and I thought it right to examine the resulting situation with care.
81WWe have now decided not to ask this House to approve the Scheme laid last December but instead to lay before both Houses a different scheme, for which we shall seek approval as soon as practicable after the Easter Recess.
In this we are making a change of policy, to allow applications made up to and including 26th October, 1970, to be approved at the old rates of grant irrespective of their date of receipt, instead of requiring receipt before 27th October as a condition for such approval.
In addition, we have thought it right to make it absolutely clear that the Scheme we are now proposing to lay cannot substitute the new lower rate of grant where an application has already been approved. The Select Committee evidenced some concern for the possibility that an application received on 27th October and approved that same day might be nullified. The revised Scheme will make it clear that for any such
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PAID APPOINTMENTS CHARGEABLE OR PARTIALLY CHARGEABLE TO PUBLIC FUNDS (as at 1st April, 1971) Board, Authority, etc Appointments Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation Chairman Deputy Chairman Eggs Authority … … Chairman … (b) Deputy Chairman … Members (10) … Forestry Commission … … Chairman … (c) Members (8) … Home-Grown Cereals Authority … … Chairman … (b) (d) Deputy Chairman … Members (20 at present) … Meat and Livestock Commission … … Chairman … (e) (f) Deputy Chairman … Members (7 at present) … White Fish Authority … … Chairman … (b) (h) (k) Deputy Chairman … Member (1) (multiple appointment) … Members (4) … and its Committee for Scotland and Northern Ireland … … Chairman (also Deputy Chairman, W F A.) … (h) (j) Member (1) (multiple appointment) … Members (4) … Herring Industry Board … … Chairman … (k) (l) Member (1) (multiple appointment) … Members (2) … application the approval already given would stand.