§ 33. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects 468 to annonce his proposals as a result of the Hunter Committee Report.
§ Mr. BuchanI would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to the Question which he asked on 23rd October, 1968; I cannot yet add to it.—[Vol. 770, c. 1272–3.]
§ Mr. DalyellIs it accepted that a great many worth-while things can be done for Scottish anglers without involving the Chancellor at all?
§ Mr. BuchanI think that my hon. Friend is suggesting that I should bring in some interim proposals. I have said repeatedly, and I say again, that I should prefer to deal with the recommendations of the Hunter Committee as a single entity.
§ Mr. StodartDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that he is being incredibly dilatory, even for him and his Government? Is he aware that already tests are being made on one of the English rivers to count by electronic methods the number of salmon going up the rivers? That was one of the main recommendations of the Hunter Report. Why cannot it be done in Scotland?
§ Mr. BuchanThat is a perfect example of why we were correct in taking time. One of the proposals was to have a more expensive method of counting. Time has allowed research to take place, and a cheaper method has come forward. This illustrates our correctness in taking time to consider very fully all the implications of the Report.