§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the intervention payments for mackerel catches which were submitted to his Department in February have not so far been paid to the fishermen concerned; if he will make a statement as to the reason for the delay; and when the payments will be made.
§ Mr. Younger:This is essentially a matter between the fish producers' organisation concerned and the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce, which has responsibility for the payment of claims by producers' organisations for fish withdrawn from the human consumption market under Community withdrawal price arrangements.
I understand that the intervention board received three claims from the Scottish Fishermen's Organisation (SFO) for mackerel withdrawn from the human consumption market during January and February 1980. Two of those claims have been paid under advance payment arrangements. Settlement of the other, received on 14 March, has been delayed pending the submission of necessary details together with appropriate endorsements and also an increase in the level of the security which has to be lodged with the board by the organisation before an advance payment can be made.
These further details and endorsements have now been received. As soon as the additional security has been lodged the outstanding claim will be paid. It is the responsibility of the SFO to pay out the compensation to individual fishermen.