asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will make a statement on the present situation regarding the inability of fishermen to repay their loans; and the efforts he is taking to alleviate the situation.

Arrears on fishing boat loans under the BIM marine credit plan totalled £8.5 million at 31 December 1984. Most of these arrears have been accumulated over a period of years.

The Government have recognised the difficulties being experienced by fishermen in meeting their financial obligations and agreed a special aid package earlier this year. The package involves the full remission of the excise duty on fuel oil used in fishing and extra funds for marketing, exploratory fishing and harbour development together with a re-vamping of loan repayment arrangements under BIM's marine credit plan, including an increased subsidy on interest rates for a three year period. BIM are in the process of finalising agreements with the banks and individual fishermen for the implementation of the new loan arrangements.

Can the Minister give some indication of the number who have availed of the new arrangement and would he agree with the view of the fishermen's organisation that this change is totally unacceptable and not sufficient to deal with the crisis?

The short reply is that the package was offered to 262 holders of BIM loans, that of these 115 accepted while 39 have not accepted for various reasons, such as having too short a period remaining on their loans. There has been no response from the holders of 108 accounts.