§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will estimate the profits which will accrue in the first year following sale to the North of Scotland Hydroelectric Board, following its sale of several fishing beats on the river Conon, Ross-shire.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThis is a commercial matter for the board. The sale price has not been disclosed at this stage.
§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the conditions pertaining to the recent sale of fishing beats on the river Conon, Ross-shire, by the North of Scotland Hydroelectric Board in so far as they affect future access to the beats by local fishermen; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Allan StewartI understand that the new owner of the three Brahan beats plans to offer the fishings for let on a weekly basis to previous tenants and local interests, and certain weeks in July, August and September will be resold. The new owners of the Coul beat have indicated that they will give priority to previous tenants and to local interests for any fishing that may be available for letting. The board has made it clear that it hopes to come to satisfactory arrangements with local angling clubs, hotels and others, before the remaining beats are disposed of in order to maintain access by local anglers and visitors. I am satisfied that a reasonable balance has been struck between the case for continuing local access and the need to dispose of an asset irrelevant to the board's main business.
§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much he expects to be paid into the Consolidated Fund as a result of the sale of several fishing beats on the river Conon, Ross-shire, by the North of Scotland Hydroelectric Board.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThere will be no payment into the Consolidated Fund. The proceeds of the sale will be used in the general financing of the board's business, thereby keeping borrowings below what would otherwise have been required.