HC Deb 15 October 1969 vol 788 cc404-5
47. Mr. Gordon Campbell

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet ready to make a statement on the Hunter Report on fishing.

The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Dr. J. Dickson Mabon)

No, Sir.

Mr. Campbell

As it is more than three years since the report was presented to the Government, may I ask what action the Secretary of State is proposing to take on a pilot scheme for the new recommended method of taking salmon from each river? Further, will the Minister state whether the Government are taking any action on the recommendations concerning brown trout, which would greatly assist the Scottish tourist trade?

Dr. Dickson Mabon

In reply to the first part of that supplementary question, I suggest that the hon. Gentleman puts it down as a separate Question. On the second part, the report has to be treated as a whole. The reason for the delay is that our consultations have been extremely wide, involving the principal organisations. I am sorry to report that there have been wide differences of opinion about how to apply the report. We are trying to resolve them.

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