HC Deb 26 October 1995 vol 264 cc759-60W
Sir Cranley Onslow

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has reached a decision on the future of the Salmon Advisory Committee. [40202]

Mr. Baldry

The Salmon Advisory Committee has now largely completed the various tasks that Fisheries Ministers have asked it to undertake. Six of its reports have been published and a further five reports are nearing completion. When its current work is completed, the committee's report will provide a set of studies comprehensively examining all the factors that affect salmon during the various stages of their life cycle as well as on a range of other important topics. The committee's published reports have all been well received.

The terms of appointment of a great majority of the committee's members will shortly come to an end, and with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales I have been considering whether the life of the committee should be extended for a further period. We have concluded that, once the committee has completed its current programme of work, there are no further tasks for it to undertake of sufficient importance to justify its retention. The committee will, therefore, be wound up at the end of the current financial year.

A particularly valuable feature of the Salmon Advisory Committee is that it represents views from all part of Great Britain. My right hon. Friends and I do not wish to lose the opportunity to seek advice on salmon issues on a Great Britain basis and we are, accordingly planning to hold regular meetings with representatives of the various organisations interested in salmon fisheries; these will take place at least once a year and will provide a forum for the discussion of matters relating to salmon and salmon fisheries.

My right hon. Friend and I wish to thank all members and former members of the Salmon Advisory Committee for their hard work and dedication; they have made a major contribution to improving our understanding of salmon. Particular credit is due to the committee's chairman, Professor George Dunnet, CBE who, sadly, died last month. We have asked Mr. Robert Clerk OBE, an existing member of the committee, to take over the duties of chairman for the remaining life of the committee.