§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether, having regard to the fact that the Chairman of the Royal Commission (Highlands and Islands, 1892) states that the preparation of the Report, including the Appendix, is being pushed forward vigorously, and that the surveyor is presently engaged with no fewer than two assistants, steps will be taken to augment the surveyor's staff so that the work may be pressed forward more vigorously than is possible with two assistants; and whether he can state when the Report will be issued?
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. O. TREVELYAN)In October last the Treasury, at my request, sanctioned the employment by the Commission, of the extra surveyors whom they asked for as necessary to complete the work. The Chairman of the Commission informs me that the final proofs of the maps, which are somewhat elaborate, are expected to be in the hands of the Stationery Office by the end of this month, and it will then rest with that Office to circulate them, along with the Report and Appendices, as soon as possible after presentation to Parliament.
§ MR. MAXWELL (Dumfriesshire)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received petitions from the Nith and Annan Fishery Boards, and also from the Whammel net-fishers, asking for an inquiry into the laws affecting the salmon fisheries in the Solway Firth; and whether it is the intention of the Government to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the operation of these laws?
§ SIR G. O. TREVELYANI have received the Petitions referred to by the hon. Member. The question is one which affects English as well as Scottish interests, and is receiving the close consideration of the different Departments of the Government who are responsible at the present moment.