§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give a direction to the Forestry Commission that in the sale of salmon fishing assets on the river Tweed or elsewhere, the traditional access rights by local angling associations to fish for trout be safeguarded.
§ Mr. YoungerThe Forestry Commission is in the process of selling salmon fishing rights which it has on 2¼miles of one bank of the river Tweed near Innerleithen. The Peebles Salmon Fishing Association declined to buy the rights at district valuer's valuation and they are therefore now being placed on the open market. It would not be appropriate for me to issue any direction to the Forestry Commission that this sale should be subject to reserved rights of access. The Forestry Commission is not selling the trout fishing rights which it has over a more limited stretch of water.