STATE AID REGULATIONS AND SHETLAND FISHERMEN

That this House notes with concern the ruling by the European Commission, under state aid regulations, that Shetland Islands Council must recover monies invested in the local fishing industry using funds paid to Shetland Islands Council by the oil industry as compensation for the disruption caused by the construction of Europe's largest oil terminal at Sullom Voe; further notes that, if the monies have to be repaid, this will impact directly on 78 individual Shetland fishermen who received grants to allow them to invest in boats; welcomes the decision by Shetland Islands Council to apeal this decision to the European Court of Justice; and calls upon both the Scottish Executive and United Kingdon Government to support and assist Shetland Islands Council both with the appeal and with discussions with the European Commission, in order to bring this matter to a successful outcome for Shetland, allowing the Islands Council to continue to build, maintain and sustain the local fishing industry.