The imposition of Rod Licences on the Scottish section of the River Esk is to be debated in Parliament this week. Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell has secured an adjournment debate on Thursday 11 May when he will raise local concerns about the conduct of the Environment Agency in introducing the licensing regime, and seek a solution whereby local anglers would not be required to pay the licence fee.

Mr Mundell said: “I am totally frustrated at the lack of progress in finding a way forward on the Rod Licence issue. Like many local people, I still dispute whether there was any requirement by the Environment Agency to introduce the Licensing regime in Scotland, when assurances had been given to former Dumfries MP Lord Munro that it would never happen. However, the Environment Agency pressed ahead with introducing the licences regardless of those assurances and public opposition. I was very disappointed when, as a Member of the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Executive were not prepared to do anything to stop the iniquitous introduction of licences on the Esk, which is the only river in Scotland they apply to.

“I raised the issue in my maiden speech in the House of Commons and subsequently last October, I met with the Fisheries Minister, Ben Bradshaw MP. Although he attempted to justify the usual reasons why the licences had to be introduced, Mr Bradshaw undertook to tell the Environment Agency to look at finding a way of easing the burden on local anglers by, for example, granting a Group Licence to the Esk and Liddlesdale Fisheries Improvement Association, or even granting an exemption from payment for licences on the Esk. This would be permissible under existing legislation. However, since my meeting in October, I have heard nothing from the Environment Agency and, indeed, they have even indicated that they were going to take a more robust line in enforcing the licensing regime.

“I am seeking now to bring matters to a head by calling on the Fisheries Minister to deliver on his undertaking to find a resolution to this matter which is acceptable to local people. I can not believe that it is right that Rod Licences should apply on the River Esk when they do not apply on any other river in Scotland. That is why we need a solution now to this long-running saga.”