§ 3. Mr. Manuelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why no full-time research on brown trout and brown trout fisheries is being carried out; and whether he will now ensure that this research work is undertaken by the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory at Pitlochry, Perthshire.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Gilmour Leburn)The present programme of the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory at Pitlochry includes a number of projects on brown trout research.
§ Mr. ManuelIs the Minister aware that my information is quite different? Would he not agree that, in view of the very greatly increased demand for brown trout angling arising from the work of the Scottish Tourist Board, it would be very wrong that brown trout research should now be stopped? Will the hon. Gentleman take immediate steps to investigate why the research has been switched entirely to salmon and to restore and extend brown trout research at the Pitlochry Laboratory?
§ Mr. LeburnFor the ten years to 1958 the Laboratory devoted most of its attention to brown trout. While it is now doing more work on salmon, a considerable amount of work is still being done on brown trout.
§ Mr. T. FraserIs the Joint Under-Secretary aware that the many angling clubs throughout Scotland—and many more people are engaged in angling with these clubs than in salmon fishing—are concerned that nobody is occupied full-time with brown trout research and that the energies of the Laboratory seem mainly to be devoted to salmon research?
§ Mr. LeburnIt is true that the Laboratory is devoted mainly to that 1146 purpose, but it is always prepared to answer queries from angling clubs or give any help that it can to them.
§ Sir J. DuncanWill my hon. Friend give an assurance that, in view of the increased importance of trout angling in the Highlands of Scotland, this research work will not be stopped?
§ Mr. LeburnI agree that it is very important. In view of what has been said by hon. Members on both sides, I will go into this matter.