HC Deb 23 January 1963 vol 670 c78
33. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the large shoals of small herring coming into the Forth and the numbers being destroyed in the Kincardine Power Station cooling system; and what steps he is taking to safeguard the possibilities of a return of the herring to the Forth.

The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Brooman-White)

There are very few small herring in the Forth at present, but sprats have increased substantially this winter. Recently exceptional numbers of sprats penetrated the protecting screens at the cooling system intake and were destroyed. Over a period, however, losses at the intake have been only a very small percentage of catches of herring and sprats in the Forth and it does not seem that they will materially affect the fishery prospects.

Mr. Woodbum

While the information about herrings seems to be about red herrings in this case, in the case of sprats could the hon. Gentleman take account of the experience at the Portobello Station where there was trouble of this kind caused by mussels blocking up the machinery? Can he see whether this solution can be repeated at Kincardine by reversing the flow in and out?

Mr. Brooman-White

We are conducting further research into the most effective way of developing a protective screen.