My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
[The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in the preparation of legislation based on the 1961 Bledisloe Report, which legislation has been promised by successive Governments ever since that Report was received.]
My Lords, a Bill to amend the law relating to regulation and control of salmon and freshwater fisheries was introduced in another place on December 1 last by the honourable Member for Dorset, West. I understand that this Bill will incorporate a number of the recommendations of the Bledisloe Committee.
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the degree of comfort I can obtain from his reply must depend upon two things: first, whether the Government will give time for this Private Member's Bi11, and secondly, whether they will give facilities and help to it?
My Lords, I should very much like my noble friend to be comforted, but I cannot commit Her Majesty's Government to giving time for this Bill. My noble friend will realise that the timetable is already fairly full. As regards the degree of help that is given, I think we must wait for the publication of the Bill.
My Lords, may I be allowed to remind the Minister of what he told me in June last, when he said:
Apparently nothing is to be done by the Government about this question; they are relying upon a Private Member's Bill, although they can give me no assurance that it will ever go through."…we are hoping that in the very near future the priorities will allow something to be done about this question ".—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 30/6/71, col. 321.]
My Lords, I think we shall have to see what happens to the Bill that is introduced in another place. Obviously, there must not be duplication over this matter.