To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the press release issued on 27 November 2007 by his Department, how much funding the Government plan to provide to the fishing industry in addition to that provided by the European Fisheries Fund; and if he will make a statement. (171726)

The amount of money the Government intend to make available will be indicated in the financial tables of the draft Operational Programme for the European Fisheries Fund which will be subject to a consultation. This will be a 12-week consultation which I expect to commence early in 2008.