HC Deb 09 June 2004 vol 422 cc449-50W
Mr. Donaldson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the £1.5 million set aside for the Cod Recovery Programme Transitional Aid (Tie-Up) Scheme 2004 has been allocated to vessel owners in Northern Ireland; what amount has been set aside for appeals; what the timescale is for those appeals; and who has been appointed to hear them. [176988]

Mr. Pearson

To date the total amount allocated to vessel owners under the Temporary Cessation (Tie-up) Scheme has been £1,228,729.37. No funding provision has been made for appeals. A four-stage appeals procedure, including final appeal to an independent panel appointed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, is available. Appeals will be progressed as promptly as possible, taking account of the circumstances of the particular case.

Mr. Donaldson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vessel owners have accepted grants under the terms of the Northern Ireland Fishing Vessel Decommissioning Scheme 2003; how many have been offered grants under the terms of this scheme and refused that offer; and how many have been offered grants under the terms of this scheme and declined but have subsequently been successful in an application for transitional aid during Cod Closure in 2004. [176989]

Mr. Pearson

The information is as follows:

Fishing Vessel Decommissioning Scheme 2003
Number
Owners accepting offers of grant under scheme 19
Owners refusing offers of grant under scheme 11
Owners refusing offers of grant under scheme who have been successful under the2004 transitional aid scheme 8