HL Deb 17 July 1997 vol 581 cc122-3WA
Viscount Addison

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many applications have been received in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales to kill cormorants, grey herons or goosanders; how many licences have been issued and how many of each of these birds have been reported shot under these licences, in each of the last five years, including this year to date.

Lord Donoughue

The information requested is as follows.

(a) England
January to December 1992 January 1993 to April 1994 May 1994 to April 1995 May 1995 to April 1996 May 1996 to April 1997
Cormorants Number of applications received 0 102 117 93 108
Number of licences granted 4 25 35 50 47
Number of birds shot 13 82 99 152 147
Goosanders Number of applications received 0 11 28 24 12
Number of licences granted 0 7 0 5 1
Number of birds shot 0 39 0 2 3
Herons Number of applications received 6 4 11 16 18
Number of licences granted 4 3 2 4 6
Number of birds shot 1 4 0 3 5

Note:

Prior to 1994, figures were collated on a calendar year basis.

(b) Scotland*
January to December 1993 January to December 1994 January to December 1995 January to December 1996 January 1997 to date
Total number of applications received for piscivorous birds 33 36 32 48 31
Total number of licences granted for piscivorous birds 33 36 30 41 24
Number of licences granted Cormorants 30 33 22 37 20
Goosanders 19 20 16 21 14
Herons 1 0 0 2 1
Number of birds shot Cormorants 248 205 208 280 173
Goosanders 456 305 339 468 403
Herons 0 0 0 7 8

(c) Wales*
January to December 1993 January to December 1994 April 1995 to March 1996 April 1996 to March 1997 April 1997 to date
Total number of applications received for piscivorous birds 3 16 12 10 1
Total number of licences granted for piscivorous birds 0 9 12 10 0
Number of birds shot Cormorants 0 3 8 10 0
Goosanders 0 11 13 5 0
Herons 0 0 0 0 0
* Applications and licences can be for more than one species.