HL Deb 17 February 1983 vol 439 cc439-40WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the licences granted by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland to kill barnacle geese contain restrictions on the number of birds that may be killed, and what advice the Government received from the Nature Conservancy Council's Advisory Committee on Birds on the issue of licences to kill barnacle geese for the purpose of preventing them causing serious damage to agriculture.

The Earl of Mansfield

Such licences do not specify a maximum number of birds which may be killed. In agreeing the proposals by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland for licensing in the first season, the Nature Conservancy Council's Advisory Committee on Birds did not request such a condition, although it requested that foreshore shooting be excluded from licences and this was agreed.

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For what period of the year licences issued in Scotland to control barnacle geese are usable; whether this has been agreed by the Nature Conservancy Council's Advisory Committee on Birds; and what has been the wintering population of barnacle geese on Islay in each of the last three winters for which figures exist.

The Earl of Mansfield

These licences are valid from the date of issue, 15th October 1982 or later, until 30th April 1983 and this was agreed by the Nature Conservancy Council's Advisory Committee on Birds. I understand the autumn counts of barnacle geese on Islay were 20,500 in 1980, 14,800 in 1981 and 12,800 in 1982.

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the police in Scotland have completed their investigations into the illegal shooting of a barnacle goose on Islay on 25th October 1982, and if so, what was the outcome of this investigation.

The Earl of Mansfield

The police reported the incident to the procurator fiscal who has informed the police that he has decided to take no proceedings.

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many of the people licensed to kill barnacle geese on Islay by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland are landowners, owner occupiers or tenant farmers respectively, how many have a permanent address in Scotland outside Islay and how many have a permanent address in England. Wales or Northern Ireland.

The Earl of Mansfield

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland issued licences to 6 landlords and 8 owner occupiers. No licence has been issued to a tenant. The applications were received from and licences were issued to addresses in Islay which I understand to be permanent ones. The department does not hold information on whether these persons have addresses elsewhere.

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action is being taken over the incident that took place on 27th January 1983 when two Italian citizens shot at a flock of nine barnacle geese with semi-repeating shotguns on the Laggan estate on Islay in Scotland; whether they can confirm that a third person drove the geese over the two guns; and whether they can also confirm that the incident was reported immediately to the police.

The Earl of Mansfield

This incident was investigated by the police and after consultation with the procurator fiscal it was concluded that no offence had been committed and that no further action was necessary.