§ Lord Moranasked Her Majesty's Government:
How consultations for the introduction of dealer licensing under Sections 20 and 31 of the Salmon Act 1986 are progressing, whether they can yet say what form these arrangements are likely to take, and how soon they expect the arrangements to enter into force.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Glenarthur)We are currently considering the arrange-1338WA ments for the salmon dealer licensing schemes in Scotland and in England and Wales. There will be consultation with interested bodies, including those which will be responsible for enforcement and fish trade organisations, before finalising our proposals. It is not possible to indicate when the arrangements are likely to come into force but the intention is to produce, as quickly as possible, schemes which will be practical, in terms both of the effective deterrence of trade in illegal salmon and of the needs of those who will have the responsibility for operating the schemes.