Rt Hon Member For Suffolk Coastal And Government Repudiation Of Sections 20 And 31 Of The Salmon Act 1986

EDM number 484 in 1989-90, proposed by John Home Robertson on 07/02/1990.

That this House recalls the total commitment of the Right honourable Member for Suffolk Coastal to the introduction of a dealer licensing scheme for salmon during debates on the Salmon Act 1986; notes his statements that 'as the progenitor of the scheme, I am committed to it not only as a member of the Government, but because I think it extremely important', Committee, column 550-3; and 'I assure honourable Members that we intend to get the new system into operation as rapidly as possible. Indeed we must do so. We have given a number of assurances ... if we cannot get the system into operation rapidly enough everything else will fail', Official Report, 23rd October 1986, column 1418; was surprised when it was announced on 6th February that the Government has concluded that such a scheme 'would pose virtually insurmountable difficulties' and had 'decided not to proceed further with these schemes for licensing dealers'; wonders why the Government wasted so much parliamentary time on such ill-considered legislation; suggests that the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food should consider his position; and demands urgent action to conserve salmon and to improve public access to river fishing.

This motion has been signed by a total of 30 MPs.