Rural Affairs Committee, 25 Apr 2000

Meeting date: Tuesday, April 25, 2000

Official Report 210KB pdf

---

Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Amendment (Scotland) Bill

Has everybody seen the responses to our request for views on the bill, which have been circulated?

Members indicated agreement.

Members will recall that we agreed to seek submissions from the industry and then consider oral evidence. As you see, all the submissions express overwhelming support for the general principles of the bill. Given that level of support, further oral evidence may not be required.

If the support is overwhelming, I suggest not.

I agree. One or two points have been raised, by the Clyde Fishermen's Association for example, that I am sure will come up again but they do not need to delay the bill process.

Those points seem to be tangential to the bill.

Are there any further comments? In that case, would it be appropriate to ask the clerks to prepare a draft report on the general principles of the bill? We will aim to consider that report at the earliest possible opportunity. We should agree to meet in private to consider that report. Does that meet with the approval of the committee?

Members indicated agreement.

A date for that will be arranged as soon as possible. Are there any further comments?