§ 24. Mr. Kimballasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up an independent committee to examine and collect all the evidence of the effect of hydro-electric schemes on salmon stocks and to obtain accurate figures of fish caught in nets in the affected rivers.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. John Maclay)Most hydro-electric schemes have been in operation for too short a time to enable the effect they are having on salmon stocks to be reliably determined, but I shall certainly bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind. As regards the second part of the Question, returns for fish caught by nets in all Scottish rivers are already furnished to me under statute.
§ Mr. KimballIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the irreparable damage that is being done in Norway, and also of the experiments which are now being carried out by Liverpool University and the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, and could he co-ordinate the work so that some definite information will be available to the river boards?
§ Mr. MaclayI am aware of the various studies that have been made of the problem, and I myself have studies being carried out between the Hydro-Electric Board and the statutory Fisheries Committee.