RURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES CONSULTATION ON SALMON BILL
 

The Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs Committee today announced that it is seeking views on the Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill which was introduced to the Parliament on 28 September 2000.

The Bill introduced by the Scottish Executive arises out of growing concerns over salmon and sea trout stocks which are continuing to decline. The Bill seeks to address fears that stocks have fallen below numbers required to ensure their survival and that more must be done to conserve stocks.

Current conservation measures are limited, and only in place in some areas. The Bill recognises the need to strengthen these powers and allows Scottish Ministers to make regulations to conserve salmon.

The Bill has been referred to the Rural Affairs Committee for consideration. Accordingly, the Committee is keen to seek views from all interested parties before Parliament begins formal consideration of the Bill. The Committee has access to all material gathered by the Executive in previous consultations, and is looking only for additional submissions relating to the Bill as Introduced.

Evidence to the Committee at this stage should be typewritten, short and concise. It would be helpful if written evidence could be submitted in electronic form by email (preferably in MS Word 97) but postal submissions will still be welcomed. Evidence received may be published by the Parliament. The Committee may decide to invite some respondents to give oral evidence in person on 7 November 2000.

Evidence should be submitted to:

Tracey Hawe,
Senior Assistant Clerk to the Rural Affairs Committee,
Room 2.01 Committee Chambers,
George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh EH99 1SP.
Email: rural.affairs@scottish.parliament.uk

The closing date for evidence is Monday October 23, 2000.

Background Notes:

The Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill is published as SP Bill 20 and is available from the Stationery Office and on the Parliamentary website. It was introduced on 28 September 2000. Explanatory Notes (and the Executive's and Presiding Officer's statements on legislative competence) are published separately as SP Bill 20-EN. A Policy Memorandum is also published separately as SP Bill 20-PM.

The committee's membership is as follows: John Munro, Alasdair Morgan, Alex Fergusson, Cathy Peattie, Alex Johnstone (convener), Irene McGugan, Elaine Murray, Mike Rumbles, Des McNulty, Rhoda Grant and Richard Lochhead. For specific committee information contact: Tracey Hawe, Senior Assistant Clerk: 0131 348 5221 Email: tracey.hawe@scottish.parliament.uk For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 34 85000 For general enquiries, contact: 0845 278 1999 (local call rate) Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk

Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk