§ 39. Major Anstruther-Grayasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now received a report on the Farne Island seals from the Nature Conservancy; and whether, in the light of this and his own investigations into the damage done by those seals to fishing interests, he will make a statement.
Mr. AmoryThe Report reached my Department yesterday and I shall, of course, examine it without delay.
§ Major Anstruther-GrayIn doing so, may I ask my right hon. Friend to bear in mind that the breeding population of these seals in the Farne Islands has increased more than eight times since the pre-war count, and that the position is urgent because they cause a great deal of damage to fishing interests?