asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions for poaching took place in 1981; if he is giving advice on prosecution policy on such offences to procurators fiscal; and if he will make a statement.

In 1981 proceedings were raised against a total of 658 persons for contraventions of salmon and freshwater fisheries legislation, the game laws and the Deer (Scotland) Act 1959. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and his predecessors in office have had instructions issued to procurators fiscal from time to time as necessary regarding poaching offences. As I indicated to my hon. Friend the Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. Walker) on 17 November 1982—[Vol. 32, c. 276]—poaching has become a commercial business. Procurators fiscal are aware of this and sentences recently imposed by the Scottish courts show that they, too, take the matter seriously.