MR. MACFAELANEasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he will cause to be prepared and lay upon the Table, a Return of all persons to whom the rights of the Crown to foreshore and exclusive fishing privileges have been granted around the coasts of Scotland; the date of such grants; the consideration for which they were originally granted; the 417 rent or other consideration now received for such rights; and their probable value to the grantees; also a Return of the same rights and privileges still retained by the Crown?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON)If the information desired were limited to time—say to the last 30 years—it would be possible to prepare a Return of all persons to whom any Crown rights to salmon fishings or foreshores in Scotland have been sold or leased, with the dates of grant and the consideration paid, whether in a lump sum, or as rent to the Crown. Such a Return would be mainly a compilation from Papers presented to this House by the Board of Trade and Commissioners of Woods and Forests. But it would not be possible to estimate the present value of these rights to the grantees; and it would be neither possible nor expedient to give a Return of such property still in the possession of the Crown. As to the last point, however, I believe that the presumption at law is that all foreshores and fisheries of the kind referred to belong to the Crown, unless an adverse title can be proved. If the hon. Member will communicate with me, I will arrange with him the form of a Return which can be given.