HC Deb 14 March 1985 vol 75 cc271-2W
Mr. Jim Spicer

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the various schemes of assistance available from the United Kingdom and the European Economic Community for the United Kingdom fishing industry.

Mr. MacGregor

The information requested is as follows:

SCHEMES OF ASSISTANCE FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM FISHING INDUSTRY

The Fishing Vessels (Acquisition and Improvement) (Grants) Scheme 1981 (as amended).

  • — Grants towards the construction of new fishing vessels and the modernisation of existing ones.

Regulation (EEC) No. 2908/83

  • —Grants in addition to national aids for the purchase or construction of new fishing vessels, or for the modernisation or conversion of existing ones, of between 9 and 33 metres in length.

The Fishing Vessels (Financial Assistance) Scheme 1983 and Directive (EEC) 83/515

  • —Grants for the laying up or decommissioning of fishing vessels and for exploratory voyages and joint ventures.

The Fish Producers' Organisations (Formation Grants) Scheme 1982 and Regulation (EEC) No. 3796/81

  • —Grants in respect of the initial administrative expenses for Producers' Organisations.

The Fisheries Act 1981 provides for loans to be made available for the construction or re-engining of fishing vessels and for acquiring, reconditioning or improving plant for ice-making or processing sea fish.

The Fisheries Act 1955 provides for grants to be made available for harbour improvement to public authorities and other similar bodies in Great Britain where such assistance will promote the maintenance or development of the fishing industry. For Northern Ireland, grants are available under the Harbour Act (NI) 1970 to persons improving, maintaining or managing a harbour or carrying out harbour operations.

The Sea Fish Industry Authority also provides assistance in various forms to the United Kingdom industry generally.

Under the common organisation of the market in fishery products varying forms of support are available for certain designated species of fish. These include financial compensation for fish withdrawn from the human consumption market and storage aid payments. Payments are made by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and reimbursed by the European Commission.

Regulation (EEC) 355/77 (as amended by Regulation (EEC) 1932/84)

Assistance for processing and marketing of fisheries products.

Details of assistance to fish farming were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Mr. Soames) on 14 December 1984 at columns 624–25.