To ask the Scottish Executive when the 2002 decommissioning package was announced; when the package came into force, and when the (a) first and (b) last vessel was decommissioned under the package.

The most recent decommissioning scheme in Scotland was The Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001. The decommissioning package was announced on 8 March 2001, and the scheme was open for applications between 31 August and 31 October 2001. The first vessel was certified as having been decommissioned under the scheme on 23 January 2002 and a certificate in respect of the last vessel was issued on 23 September 2002.