§ Mr. Welshasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures showing the number of Scots fishermen arrested for the drift netting of salmon in each year over the past five years; and what were the total fines imposed by the courts in these cases.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownFishermen are not normally arrested for offences under fisheries legislation.
The statistics of offences which the Secretary of State collects centrally do not 387W distinguish cases of illegal drift netting for salmon from certain other offences under fisheries legislation. My right hon. Friend's Department is, however, aware of three convictions this year for illegal drift netting for salmon; these resulted in the imposition of fines amounting to £5,000, £1,000 and £40 respectively.