§ Dr. Glynasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the state of negotiations between the United Kingdom, the EEC and other interested parties about a scheme for the tagging of salmon.
§ Mr. MacGregorUntil we decide, following the working party investigation of salmon tagging referred to in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) of 29 February 1984, at column196, whether a workable scheme can be developed in Great Britain, it would be premature to enter into negotiations with other countries.
§ Dr. Glynasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on progress towards the tagging of legally caught wild Atlantic salmon.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether, when discussions have been completed between Government Departments and outside organisations on salmon tagging to the satisfaction of his Department, he proposes to introduce legislation on a salmon tagging scheme to curb the activities of salmon poachers;
(2) whether he has now concluded his discussions with the Scottish Office regarding the introduction of a salmon tagging scheme to curtail salmon poaching; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorAs I said in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir Hector Monro) on 29 February, at column 196, officials were instructed to examine with the various interests concerned whether the ideas set out in the Salmon Sales Group's report can be developed into a workable scheme. We are receiving full co-operation from those concerned in this study but it is still too early to decide what legislation would be needed to give effect to a salmon tagging scheme on the lines envisaged by the Salmon Sales Group.