§ 11. Mr. Prydeasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many convictions for salmon poaching have been registered under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Protection) (Scotland) Act, 1951, and what amount of money has been levied in fines.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartFrom 10th May, 1951, when the Act was passed, to 31st December last, there were 188 convictions of poaching and 307 convictions of other offences under it. Fines totalling £1,128 were imposed in 167 poaching cases, and fines totalling £1,947 in 254 other cases. Some cases in each class were disposed of otherwise.
§ Mr. PrydeIs the Minister aware of the ugly feeling engendered on Tweed-side as a result of the savage sentences imposed? Is he further aware that I have here evidence from a man who, found in possession of a cleek and stick on the public highway, was fined £8 as 982 a first offence; also that one of my constituents says that he was convicted at the Selkirk Sheriff Court on the evidence of a water bailiff, who contended that he saw him—at a distance of 500 yards, on a dark night and round a bend in the river—hiding salmon in a marsh which only existed in the imagination of the water bailiff? Will the Minister advise the Lord Advocate that it is now time to make an inquiry into the working of this Act in Scotland? Is he further aware that on 26th March next an attempt will be made in this House to fasten a replica of this Act on the English and Welsh anglers?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Question was so long that there was no time for an answer.
§ Mr. ManuelDo I take it from your remark, Mr. Speaker, that if a supplementary question is too long, it debars the Minister on the Government Front Bench from replying?
§ Mr. SpeakerYes, the answer would involve an equally long speech.
§ Mr. PrydeDue to the treatment that this Question has received, I intend to raise the matter again at the earliest possible opportunity.