NORTH EAST Fife MSP Iain Smith has accused two leading Scottish Tories of making a “major gaffe” over EU fishing aid to the new EU member states.

The Liberal Democrat was responding to comments made by Ted Brocklebank, Tory fisheries’ spokesperson and the Mid Scotland and Fife MSP, and Euro MP Struan Stevenson amid claims that new EU member states were being given a £200 million handout to modernise their fleets.

Speaking from his constituency yesterday, Mr Smith said that rather than the new EU member states being handed cash to rebuild their fishing fleets, as claimed by the Conservatives, the truth is that the EU is getting them to scrap their boats.

“Even a quick glance at the information available on the EU website link provided by Mr Brocklebank in his own press release shows the little homework he has done.

“The information for Poland, for example, shows that whilst the EU aid will go to ‘restructuring of the fisheries sector...to achieve a better balance between the fishing capacity and available fish resources,’ this will mainly be achieved through the scrapping of vessels.

“Where money is available for modernisation, this is mainly directed towards improving working practices, safety and hygiene on vessels, something I would have thought even the Conservatives would welcome.

“The EU is not funding modernisation of vessels to compete with Scottish fishermen, or handing over our fishing grounds to the new EU member states. Under the CFP, new EU members do not have new quotas.”

Mr Brocklebank stuck to his guns yesterday, however, and he repeated his claim that nearly £200 million will be available to modernise the fleets of the accession countries.

He said that it would be largely at their discretion how they use that money and “restructuring of fleets” is specifically included.

“Moreover, new accession countries can simply buy quota from existing holders,” he added.