Hans J Marter

29 July, 2008

THE SCOTTISH fishing industry is continuing to press the Scottish Government for financial help to cope with rising fuel prices despite having received repeated commitment from the SNP minority administration over recent weeks.

Speaking ahead of the cabinet meeting in Dumfries today (Tuesday), the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, Bertie Armstrong, said the time was right for the government to make a "practical financial commitment".

In an exchange of statements to the media yesterday afternoon, fishing minister Richard Lochhead reiterated his commitment towards helping the industry, adding that the administration had already pledged to make resources available.

Mr Armstrong said: "The European framework for assistance has been built over the last few weeks and the Fuel Task Force set up by fisheries minister Richard Lochhead is doing its work, but all this will just be words on paper unless government co-funding is committed now.

Mr Lochhead retorted: "We have promised a three-year plan to achieve a sustainable and profitable fishing industry that has adapted to high fuel costs and is fit for the 21st century.

"I have always made clear that the plan will be developed in partnership with fishermen and the Fuel Task Force will meet in early August to discuss how new measures agreed by the EU should be implemented in Scotland.

"At this stage the detailed financial aspects of the EU measures are still to be decided but the Scottish Government has pledged to make resources available."

Mr Armstrong continued: "We must break out of the cycle of receiving sympathy along with the answer that there is no money available in Scotland.

“There is money available if the government has the political will to make that choice. If no funding is forthcoming, then it is inevitable that some fishing vessels will go to the wall."

Mr Lochhead replied: "However the total scope and nature of the three-year plan is dependent on securing additional aid from the UK Government and Europe.

"The European Commission has indicated that additional funding may be found; it would be indefensible for the UK government not to support this proposed allocation of European funds to support fishermen."

Finance secretary John Swinney has meantime written to the UK treasury urging any allocation of European funds to support fishermen is backed by the UK government and that Scotland benefits from any such allocation.