§ Mr. Steenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what checks are made by his Department to ensure that fishing boats which are the subject of a decommissioning grant paid by his Department remain decommissioned and are not subsequently used following the transfer of a licence from another vessel to the decommissioned vessel; if any changes to the procedures are being considered; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1986]: Payment of decommissioning grant is not made until the vessel has been permanently withdrawn from fishing in Community waters and any licences issued in respect of that vessel cancelled.
The subsequent activities of decommissioned vessels are closely monitored by the sea fish inspectorate and all applications for licence transfer are carefully checked against lists of such vessels. I am satisfied that the existing procedures are sufficient to ensure that no decommissioned vessel would receive a licence.