§ Mr. OnslowTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now initiate discussions between his Department and the National Rivers Authority about the steps required to implement the recommendations of the Salmon Advisory Committee on integrated river catchment management in England and Wales, with particular reference to the creation of riparian buffer zones for the protection of fish stocks, as a part of his forthcoming review of the countryside premium scheme.
§ Mr. CurryThe Department is already in contact with the National Rivers Authority about aspects of the latest report and recommendations of the Salmon Advisory Committee. As my colleagues and I said on the day of publication, this wide-ranging report clearly warrants careful consideration both within and outside the fisheries departments. We are already considering a number of ways of improving and maintaining wildlife habitats and the committee's views will be taken into account during the forthcoming reviews of the countryside premium scheme, the extensification schemes, the environmentally sensitive area schemes and in the revision of the code of good agricultural practice for the protection of water.