§ Mr. Bill WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many owners of Scottish fishing vessels received grant aid for the modernisation programme in the period May 1979 to May 1989; and what was the total value of these grants;
(2) what is the total value of grants aid given to the Scottish fishing industry in the period May 1979 to May 1989 for the building of new fishing vessels.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythDuring the period in question £93,181,802 was awarded in grant aid. This figure is made up of £25,880,605 EC assistance, £15,571,812 assistance from the Highlands and Islands Development Board and £51,729,385 in national grants. The EC assistance figure of £25,880,605 comprise £19,619,574 towards the cost of the building of new fishing vessels and £6,261,031 towards the cost of modernisations. The breakdown of the national grant aid and the assistance from the Highlands and Islands Development Board is not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.