§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his office has taken to promote Scotland as a fisheries-dependent region for the purposes of the post-1994 reformed funding structure of the common fisheries policy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Hector MonroOfficials in the Scottish Office have had regular discussions with the European Commission on fisheries dependent areas, within both the framework of the common fisheries policy mid-term review and the wider reforms of the structural funds. The Commission's proposals on this matter are at a very formative stage. Scotland has one of only seven pilot projects set up by the Commission within the European Community to look at issues such as retraining and alternative employment for fishermen. The project is centred on Macduff. The Commission has also set up a research study to identify fisheries dependent areas in Scotland, which is being carried out by the Sea Fish Industry Authority.