§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknishasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much public money has been invested in mussel farming projects in Scotland in each of the last 10 years; how many farming projects were helped; and how many of these are no longer in business. [HL1272]
§ Lord SewelThe principal central source of funding for mussel farming projects has been the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance. This EU based scheme has assisted 19 projects with funding as follows:
Year £ 1988–89 119,154 1989–90 210,993 1990–91 — 1991–92 — 1992–93 — 1993–94 335,318 1994–95 59,755 1995–96 188,302 1996–97 474,108 1997–98 88,855 Total 1,476,485 The projects have also attracted government support of approximately £300,000 and could also have benefited from aid provided by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask the respective chairmen to write to the noble Lord on this.
Information on how many of the businesses assisted are no longer in operation is not readily available but most are believed to be still trading. It may be of interest that production of mussels over the 10 years to 1996 inclusive (the latest year for which production figures are available) has increased from 262 tonnes to 1,072 tonnes.
§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknishasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people are employed in mussel farming in Scotland. [HL1273]
§ Lord SewelIn 1997 there were 48 full-time, 35 part-time and 21 casual staff employed in mussel farming.