Dr. GoodmanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals to re-introduce a scheme of de-commissioning of fishing vessels under EEC regulation No. 4028/86; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe reintroduction of a decommissioning grants scheme is one of a number of options which could contribute towards a reduction in the size of our fishing fleet, but before we would be prepared to consider such a step we would need to be satisfied that it would provide value for taxpayers' money and that there were no better alternatives.