§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much he expects will be received by the United Kingdom fishing industry from the EU for the(a) 2001 and (b) 2002 funding years. [146274]
§ Mr. MorleyMAFF and the devolved Administrations are making available £18 million in 2001–02 and £22 million in 2002–03 for the UK fishing industry under the new EU fisheries structural funds programmes. These sums include both the amounts available from the EU under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance and the national back-up funding from MAFF and the devolved Administrations. Since grant rates and funding packages will vary across the UK and across grant-aided measures, it is not possible to say at this stage how much of the amounts will be EU money and how much national back-up.
A limited number of payments will also be made under the 1994–99 structural funds programmes. Actual amounts paid will depend on the eligibility of the claims received.
In addition the fishing industry has access to intervention funds from the Community's European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund when required.
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