HC Deb 17 March 1971 vol 813 cc1405-6
22. Sir J. Gilmour

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to introduce legislation to define sea fish farming and the rights of sea fish farmers.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

This is one of the recommendations made in the report of the Cameron Committee which my right hon. Friend will consider in the course of his study of the report.

Sir J. Gilmour

Does my hon. Friend agree that there is great potential for development here? Does he see any difficulty in the need possibly to curtail navigation rights to safeguard such development?

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

There is certainly considerable scope for development of this kind of fish farming. Legislation would be premature until we can see rather more clearly the ways in which marine fish farming will develop and the methods it will seek to use.