§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications were received in the last year for which figuers are available from registered fishing ports in Scotland for grants for modernisation or construction of fishing vessels; and what proportion were successful.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe new national grants scheme for the construction and modernisation of fishing vessels came into force on 4 July 1987. Between that date and 31 January 1988, a total of 45 applications for grants towards the costs of construction of fishing vessels from fishermen based in Scotland was received and 15 of these have been approved to date. The corresponding figures for modernisation projects are 688 and 634.