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

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the fishers on the distant fishing fleet are eligible for the financial support for fishing businesses that export to the EU, announced on 19 January.

The £23 million announced for the fishing industry will provide financial support towards verifiable losses incurred by seafood exporting businesses that are registered in the UK. We will assist such businesses with losses that occur during movement of live and fresh seafood goods from the UK to the EU due to events outside their control. Fishers on the distant fishing fleet who meet the scheme conditions may be eligible for funding. Each application will be individually reviewed and assessed against the scheme criteria.