§ 2.51 p.m.
§ Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether the cause of damage to the immune system of seals, leading to many dying in the North Sea during 1988, has yet been determined.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)My Lords, we understand that scientists are now confident that the primary cause of the recent epidemic of seal deaths in the North Sea is a previously undocumented virus of the morbilli family, producing symptoms similar to canine distemper. The cause of death Is a viral infection and the extent to which any suppression of the immune system may have increased their vulnerability is so far entirely speculative.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that Answer. It follows his reply to my original Question tabled last October. My noble friend then indicated that research was beginning, but will it continue into discovering from where the cause of the loss of immunity came? For example, did it come from a ship or a river?
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, I confirm that we have commissioned research totalling £55,000 in this financial year in order to show up any possible link between disease and contaminants. That will continue next year.
§ Baroness NicolMy Lords, in October, 1988, regulations were brought forward to extend the closed season on seals for two years but they did nothing about special licences issued for shooting purposes. Have any such licences been issued since October, 1988, and, if so, how many?
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, the last occasion on which I came to the Dispatch Box to answer a Question on this matter the noble Baroness asked particularly about Section 3. She will be pleased to hear that the measure was implemented soon after I answered the Question. I am afraid that I do not have an answer to the question she has now asked but I shall investigate the matter and write to the noble Baroness.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, are the scientists who advise the Government worried that there may be a further wave of the epidemic during the coming summer?
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, there has been speculation that there could be a further outbreak during the summer. However, I should like to draw your Lordships' attention to an article published in the New Scientist on 18th February. It makes very interesting reading.