Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many aquaculture businesses he estimates will receive funding from the Fisheries Response Fund; and what steps his Department will take to assess the effective of that Fund.

Out of 79 aquaculture businesses invited to apply to the Fisheries Response Fund, 75 have received funds. Some are not eligible while others have been asked to provide further information.

Defra and the MMO are commissioning an independent evaluation of the fund’s effectiveness.