21. To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications of the European Commission’s recent ruling on Shetland Islands Council and state aid rules. (178877)

The European Commission is right to uphold the state aid rules: these are for the benefit of the whole fishing industry. However, this will impact on individual fishermen and I sympathise with the position they are in. Hence, I have offered to give proper assistance to the Shetland Islands Council in progressing its appeal.