HC Deb 05 August 1887 vol 318 cc1378-9
DR. CLARK (Caithness)

asked the Lord Advocate, Whether it is the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill this Session to re-constitute the Scottish Fishery Board; or, if not, when will the Board be re-constituted?

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDOSALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)

, in reply, said, it was not intended to introduce a Bill this Session. Under the existing Act six members of the Board went out of Office in October nest, and their places could be filled up either by re-appointment or by new members.

MR. ESSLEMONT (Aberdeen, E.)

asked, what would be the constitution of the Fishery Board for Scotland?

MR. J. H. A. MACDONALD

said, he could not predict that.

MR. ESSLEMONT

said, he could not allow the Lord Advocate to ride off in that way.

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

Mr. ESSLEMONT

said, they wanted to know the future constitution of the Board.

DR. CLARK

said, the Board had been appointed for five years, and the five years were about to expire; and, seeing that the strongest dissatisfaction had been expressed on all sides as to the constitution of the Board, he thought the question was most pertinent. Were the present Commissioners to be re-appointed?

MR. J. H. A. MACDONALD

said, that it was not in his power to re-appoint them.

MR. BUCHANAN (Edinburgh, W.)

asked, whether a promise would be given not to fill the appointments up till October—that was, until they had an opportunity of discussing the constitution of the Board on the Estimates?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

I hope we shall get to the Estimate for the Scottish Fishery Board before October.