Shona MclsaacTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on recent developments on vessel eligibility for the compensation scheme for former Icelandic trawlermen. [139933]
§ Nigel GriffithsThe compensation scheme for former Icelandic trawlermen is being amended to include vessels that fished in areas within Icelandic waters, as defined in the scheme, but where proof of this was not available because they were traditionally recorded as Faroes vessels. This decision has been reached following representations from the Independent Adjudicator for the scheme.
Those who have reasonable grounds for believing that vessels made at least two trips to Icelandic waters including disputed areas such as Rosengarten and Working Man's Bank have been invited to put them forward in writing to my officials by 19 December 2003.
Decisions on which vessels are added to the list will be taken by my Department on the following criteria:
The vessel must have the full support of the trawlermen's representatives;it must have a recorded and extensive history of Faroes fishing;the size and weight of the vessel;the length of the voyage;the makeup of the crew; and previous information already received about the vessel's trips to disputed areas, principally Rosengarten and Working Man's Bank.In January the Department will publish a list of accepted vessels. There will then be a period of three weeks in which to query any vessels that have not been included on the list in writing and giving reasons. A final list will be published during February 2004.
When vessels have been added to the list, my officials will re-examine claims made under the scheme, which closed in October 2002, and pay additional compensation to those which qualify.