Explanatory note

This Scheme enables grants to be made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretaries of State respectively concerned with the sea fish industry in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, being grants towards expenditure incurred in making essential safety improvements to vessels engaged or to be engaged in catching sea fish and registered in the United Kingdom (paragraph 3).

No grant may be paid under this Scheme unless the relevant application is approved by Ministers before 1st January 1997 and the conditions set out in paragraph 8 of the Scheme have been complied with (paragraph 6). Ministers may require undertakings to be given by a person whose application is approved (paragraph 12).

Rates of grant are specified (paragraph 7). Provision is made for the recovery of grant paid in certain circumstances (paragraphs 11 and 13).

Offences and penalties in connection with this Scheme are provided by section 17 of the Fisheries Act 1981.