§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he takes to monitor the numbers of salmon running up rivers in Scotland, and the proportion of these runs that are caught by commercial netsmen.
§ Mr. John MacKayIt is not practicable to monitor the numbers of salmon running up Scottish rivers. My right hon. Friend does, however, publish annual statistics showing the number of salmon caught in Scotland by net and coble, fixed engines and rod and line respectively. A copy of a "Statistical Bulletin", which gives figures for 1982 (the latest available year) and an illustration of trends by region for the period since 1952, has been placed in the Library.