To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what basis de minimis grants may be made to the fishing industry under EU rules; whether he plans to provide as such funding to the English fishing industry; and what the limit is of such funds that can be paid to fishing enterprises. (209724)

State aid can be paid to fisheries enterprises without notification to the EU Commission provided such payments fall below the “de minimis” threshold. This is currently €30,000 per enterprise over any three year period. I have no plans to provide further grants to the fishing industry beyond that already provided for under the European Fisheries Fund. For the English fishing industry this amounts to £71 million of EU and public funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what records he holds on the level of de minimis funding given to the (a) French fishing industry, (b) Spanish fishing fleets and (c) fishing fleets of other EU member states. (209588)

Neither the Government nor the EU Commission holds records of the amount of state aid falling below the de minimis level paid by member states.