§ Mr. John Home Robertsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what funds he intends to make available to the White Fish Authority for grants for new fishing boats in the current year and for the year 1980–81; and if he will compare these with the figures for the preceding four years.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe financial provision available to the White Fish Authority for grant aid for new fishing vessels, re-engineering and improvements, has been as follows:
1975–76 … … £6,400,000 1976–77 … … £4,569,000 1977–78 … … £4,993,000 1978–79 … … £5,137,000 The provision for the current financial year is £5,869,000. The White Fish Authority has committed £2.7 million for 1980–81. We are currently considering what further provision for that year would be appropriate, and also for subsequent years.