§ Mr. Norman HoggTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what support his Department has given to the fish farming industry in Scotland since 1979.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe Department has given support to the fish farming industry in various ways.
The Scottish Office provides scientific advice and research through the marine laboratory in Aberdeen. Spending on relevant research has amounted to some £4 million in the last five years.
The Department also provides supplementary funding to fish farmers seeking grants from the European Community (EC Regulation 4028/86). Such assistance has amounted to £1.321 million to date. In addition, financial assistance has been provided through Highlands and Islands Enterprise and its predecessor for fish farms, fish processing investment, and for other forms of assistance, estimated at some £34 million since 1979.
The Department has also committed funding under the integrated development programme and the agricultural development programme for the Scottish islands for fish farming amounting to £4 million in total since 1982.