§ Shona McIsaacTo 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 Water Trawlermen. [153599]
§ Nigel GriffithsOn 1 February 2004 I issued a list of twenty-one new vessels for inclusion on the list of Icelandic water vessels. These follow consideration of evidence put forward by trawlermen and their representatives concerning vessels that fished within 200 miles of Iceland but that had not previously been included on the list of valid vessels. There is now an appeal period until 23 February 2004 to submit further evidence on appeal against any vessels that have not accepted onto the list. This will be assessed in the same way as the evidence submitted so far and against the criteria announced in November 2003.
Once the list has been finalised, the Department will re-examine claims from trawlermen who worked on these boats and pay additional compensation to those who qualify for it. This will happen automatically—there is no need for claimants to re-apply.