§ 22. Mr. TREVELYANasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the conservancy board of the River Coquet have applied for powers to charge a licence of £150 on the fishing rights at the Warkworth and Morwick dams on that river; and whether he has caused any public inquiry to be made into this application by the conservancy board?
Mr. GUINNESSThe Fishery Board have applied for approval to a determination of a licence duty under which the existing licence duty payable for each and every draft or hang net used only in private waters in the part of the river referred to would be increased from £5 to £150. As the Fishery Board have not complied with my request to furnish me with a prima facie case justifying the increase, I do not consider that it would be proper to proceed further in the matter and put the parties and the country to the expense of a public inquiry.
§ Mr. TREVELYANIn case the Board increase their fees, will the right hon. Gentleman have an inquiry?
§ Mr. TREVELYANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that practically everyone in Northumberland thinks that there is a prima facie case?
§ Mr. TREVELYANNot necessarily, but increasing it beyond £5.
Mr. GUINNESSI think that I had better wait until I get information before I commit myself, but in no case is there any licence duty of more than £10 in force.