HC Deb 05 November 1998 vol 318 cc660-1W
Ms Southworth

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the charges levied by the Sea Fish Industry Authority when processing applications for grant aid. [58951]

Mr. Morley

The Government intend when the legislative programme allows, to introduce legislation to provide retrospective statutory authority for technical charges levied by the Sea Fish Industry Authority (SFIA) when processing applications for grant aid under the Fisheries Act 1981. This will regularise the position following advice which has cast doubt on the SFIA's view that their powers to charge contained in the Act covered the technical charges which were levied up until 1995.

I believe that the charges levied were reasonable ones and that the costs of making repayments would be disproportionate to any benefit such repayment would confer on those to whom it was made. The Ministry does not therefore propose to meet any claims that are brought before the proposed legislation is in place.