§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he estimates the Scottish fishing industry will reach the targets laid down in the current multi-annual guidance programme; what additional(a) grants and (b) other public funds will be made available to the fishing industry when this target is reached; and if he will make a statement. [1543]
§ Mr. Raymond S. Robertson[holding answer 4 November 1996]: We estimate that the UK fishing industry will be close to the targets laid down in the current multi-annual guidance programme when that programme ends on 31 December 1996. Details of the next multi-annual guidance programme remain under discussion. It is too early to say what changes in public expenditure may result.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the loss to the Scottish fishing industry in terms of decommissioning grants and other assistance due to the fact that the United Kingdom has not reached the targets laid down in multi-annual guidance programme 3yind if he will make a statement. [1544]
§ Mr. Robertson[holding answer 4 November 1996]: Decommissioning grants are provided in order to help meet the targets laid down in MAGP 3. The Scottish fishing industry has benefited from substantial UK public sector assistance for that purpose, with support from the European Union.
The fact that the UK Government may not provide certain other types of grant assistance does not affect the overall volume of resources available for EU structural spending, which has been fixed for the period 1994 to 1999. There is thus no quantifiable loss to the Scottish fishing industry.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what conditions must be met by a fisherman seeking to access grants towards the building of a new fishing vessel; and if he will make a statement. [1462]
§ Mr. Robertson[holding answer 4 November 1996]: In view of the overcapacity of the fishing fleet, fishermen in 472W Scotland do not have access to grants towards the building of new fishing vessels.