Fisheries: Finance

Bill Wiggin
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to allocate funds to UK fishermen until the UK is able to access the European Fisheries Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Shaw
The previous fisheries grants scheme, the Fisheries Instrument for Financial Guidance (FIFG) is closed to new applications. However, existing projects continue to be funded and I estimate that around £10 million will be paid in 2008.