§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to assist with grants those small business fish merchants who are now required to pay just below £30,000 to bring handling facilities up to the hygiene standards now demanded; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryEC grants were, until recently, available under regulation 4042/89 to investments involving the marketing and processing of fisheries and aquaculture produce. This scheme was aimed at fish processors and projects involving the upgrading of hygiene standards were eligible. However, the limited EC funding available to it meant that competition for grants was intense and not all eligible projects could be warded aid. The scheme closed to applications in the United Kingdom on 31 December 1992. Proposals to replace it are to be considered by the EC as part of the general review of its structural funds this year.
Sales through MMB schemes in the United Kingdom (million litres): Consumption (million litres, product volume)2 for liquid consumption for manufacture Total1 Whole Milk Semi Skimmed Milk Skimmed Milk 1974 7,698 5,399 13,098 — — — 1975 7,862 5,270 13,133 — — — 1976 7,760 5,858 13,618 — — — 1977 7,484 6,921 14,406 — — — 1978 7,381 7,713 15,094 — — — 1979 7,305 7,811 15,116 — — — 1980 7,196 7,986 15,182 — — — 1981 7,093 7,982 15,084 — — — 1982 7,001 8,928 15,942 6,815 102 74 1983 6,977 9,450 16,442 6,689 149 123 1984 6,958 8,473 15,446 6,395 366 151 1985 6,898 8,350 15,263 6,135 500 206 1986 6,851 8,597 15,460 5,598 747 412 1987 6,816 7,800 14,630 5,371 900 436 1988 6,792 7,426 14,231 5,131 989 547 1989 6,793 7,146 13,951 4,804 1,250 603 1990 6,780 7,403 14,194 4,481 1,524 644 1991 6,745 6,901 13,655 4,127 1,802 709 1992(p) 6,736 6,797 13,543 n.a. n.a. n.a.