§ Mr. CanavanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list full details, including the price of the lease from the Forestry Commission, of the freshwater fishing rights, excluding salmon, on Loch Awe and Loch Avich; and for what reasons the lease was not put up for public auction.
§ Sir Hector MonroThe Forestry Commission's fishing rights on Loch Awe and Loch Avich are leased to the Loch Awe Improvement Association for three years from 1 May 1992. The rent is £1 per annum; the association manages the fishings on behalf of the commission and issues day permits to the public.
The lease was not offered on the open market because the commission considered that a lease to the association would be more successful in conserving the fish stocks and increasing the availability of authorised fishing for freshwater fish in the lochs, in accordance with the objectives of the Loch Awe and Associated Waters Protection Order 1992.