§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will extend the vessel safety grants scheme to fishing boats under 12 m prior to the extension of the marine safety code to these vessels in 1997. [663]
§ Mr. BaldryThe Marine Safety Agency is developing a safety code for fishing vessels under 12 m and consultations with the industry on its requirements are in progress. I am informed that the MSA intends to publish the code early in 1997 and to bring it into force in 1998. But until the requirements of the code have been agreed and the costs of implementation calculated it will not be possible to reach decisions on any extension of the current safety grant scheme to fishing vessels under 12 m.