Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The seafood sector has faced significant challenges over the past 18 months, particularly with hospitality closures and adapting to new export requirements. There is a need for support measures to aid recovery.
What steps he is taking to support the UK fishing industry. The seafood sector has faced significant challenges over the past 18 months, but there is now an opportunity as hospitality opens up again and we adapt to new export requirements. Sector support worth £32.7 million is available this year.
The seafood sector has faced significant challenges over the past 18 months, but the situation is now improving as hospitality opens up and we adapt to new export requirements. Sector support worth £32.7 million is available this year, plus an additional £100 million to help rejuvenate the industry and our coastal communities.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
A report by Seafarers UK found that many small-scale fishermen had few savings and reduced financial resilience before the pandemic. Many have fallen through the gaps of Government funding due to changing vessels or low earnings in 2019.
Seafarers UK conducted a report in 2019 that found that most small-scale fishermen often had few savings and reduced financial resilience even before covid, and many have fallen through the gaps of Government funding because they either changed vessels or because their fishing opportunities and earnings in 2019 were not enough to reach the threshold for the fisheries response fund. What steps can the Minister take to address this issue and to support the small fishing boats in my constituency in Lyme Bay?
That excellent report, which I was very pleased to provide a foreword to, highlights that small-scale fishermen face not only financial challenges but social pressures. The report's recommendations point to where industry and the Government might tackle these challenges together, and we are currently considering these in more detail.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific steps or commitments to address the financial challenges of small-scale fishermen who have fallen through funding gaps were not detailed.
Response accuracy