HC Deb 23 October 1968 vol 770 cc1272-3
32. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he hopes to publish the results of his consideration of the Hunter Report on Salmon and Trout Fishing.

27. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement on the Hunter Report, outlining his proposals for implementing the Report's recommendations.

Mr. Buchan

My right hon. Friend's consideration of this Report, and of the representations which he has received on it, is not complete and he cannot yet say when he will be able to make known his proposals.

Mr. Dalyell

What is to be done to provide more fishing for those with modest incomes?

Mr. Buchan

That is precisely the problem we are trying to answer.

Mr. Campbell

Could not the Govment start on the less controversial part of the Report, which could assist greatly the tourist industry, without prejudice to later decisions on the important matters affecting the salmon-netting industry, as we proposed in the debate on this subject over a year ago?

Mr. Buchan

We did consider that and decided against it. The Report is a unity and should be seen as a unity. I hope that our proposals, when they come forward, will be dealt with as a unity. I understand that hon. Members opposite frequently try to make a differentiation between salmon and trout fishing and other fishing. The important problem is to make sure that we open up the rivers of Scotland for the people of Scotland.