§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department is taking to monitor the disbursement of the £3 million granted to the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithAdministration of the expenditure of the £1 million allocated for funding a programme of exploratory voyages is directly controlled by officials in the Fisheries Departments. The remaining £2 million has been allocated to fish producer organisations, who have discretion to choose the nature and timing of their disbursement of the subsidy, subject to the terms and conditions laid down in 527W the Fish Producers' Organisations Subsidy Scheme 1980. All expenditure is, of course, subject to the normal internal and parliamentary audit processes.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take action to avert the impending closure of the fishing industry.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe Government are urgently considering their response to the requests they have received from the fishing industry for aid to help it meet the difficulties which it is currently facing.