§ The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Elwyn-Jones)My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. It is a Consolidation Bill. As the Long Title indicates, the principal Act consolidated is the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1923, which itself consolidated, with amendments, a number of enactments dating as far back as 1861. Since 1923 the law relating to salmon and freshwater fisheries has been altered by two separate classes of legislation.
First, there has been a series of Acts relating specifically to this subject, most notably the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1972, which made substantial changes in the rules about close seasons and introduced new schemes of offences and penalties, and of fishing licences. Secondly, since 1923 there have been shifts in the responsibility for the administration of the laws relating to salmon and freshwater fisheries. In 1923, the administration was shared between Central Government and a number of Fishery Boards, which were small local bodies. Since then there have been successive transfers of the responsibility, and since April 1974 fisheries functions have been exercised by the new Water Authorities set up under the Water Act 1973. This Bill consolidates these various enactments and repeals certain obsolete and superfluous enactments. It will be referred to the Joint Committee in the usual way. My Lords, I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.