McGrigor hits out at Executive’s “Bully-Boy tactics” over Firth of Lorn
Scottish Conservative Fisheries Spokesman Jamie McGrigor today accused the Scottish Executive of Bully-Boy tactics over their closure of the Firth of Lorn to scallop dredging.
Speaking after his motion to overturn a ban on scallop dredging in the Firth of Lorn was defeated by 6 votes to 3 at the Environment and Rural Development Committee, the Highlands and Islands MSP said the Executive’s underhand actions were why some people were concerned over the impact of a Marine National Park.
Jamie McGrigor said “I am extremely disappointed with this result as I had hoped that the Committee would fully scrutinise the Scottish Executive’s handling over the Firth of Lorn ban.
“The Executive has acted wholly inappropriately on this issue, twice breaching the 21 day rule by failing to present the order properly – something I raised as a Point of Order in Parliament – and now again ignoring proper procedure just because it doesn’t suit them.
“The Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984 makes it quite clear that before Ministers can make an order they must first consult with bodies they consider appropriate. Yet they have not done so in this case and therefore surely this order is unlawful as proper procedures have not been followed?
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