Wild Birds and the Pet Trade (Hansard, 3 June 1991)

§ Baroness Blatch
My Lords, the Government recognise the growing concern about trade in birds and other wildlife species. We have therefore asked our scientific advisers to review the evidence as to whether the trade in wild-taken plants and animals is compatible with maintaining species at satisfactory levels. The results will assist us in considering whether any changes in existing controls are required.

§ Baroness Nicol
My Lords, I am encouraged by the Minister's Answer. However, can she please explain who the official advisers will be? For example, will it be the concern of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee? If so, who will foot the bill? As I understand it, the JNCC's allocations for the present year have already been made and are thought to be inadequate. Therefore, are the Government making 433 extra money available? Given the fact that for every live bird imported into this country at least three die after capture, there is an urgency about the matter.

§ Baroness Blatch
My Lords, the statistic just quoted by the noble Baroness requires scientific evidence to support it. We know that 13 per cent.—that is 13 in every 100 and not three in every four (75 in every 100) —is in fact the case, as stated by MAFF. If there is scientific evidence to support the noble Baroness's statistic, we should be most pleased to see it.
The Government have commissioned an independent study which is to be carried out jointly by Kew Gardens and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. I understand that the commission has been accepted. However, I shall have to write to the noble Baroness as to the specific funding arrangements.

§ Lord Norrie
My Lords, can the Minister say whether the Government will consider increasing the level of training given to Customs and Excise officials so as to help them in identifying species of wild birds being illegally imported?

§ Baroness Blatch
My Lords, we have no reason to believe that there is a particular problem in this respect. However, if there is, we hope that it will be revealed during the course of the study.

§ Lord Tordoff
My Lords, in the light of the Minister's reply to an earlier question in which she mentioned the need for scientific study of the problem, will she accept that an increase in the quarantine period from, say, 35 days to 60 days might assist? I say that because that is the time during which the shock of the importation procedure causes the greatest number of deaths.

§ Baroness Blatch
My Lords, it is important for me to repeat that we are most concerned about proper implementation of the convention on the import of wild birds. Therefore, if that is a problem, we hope that that fact will also be revealed during the course of the study.

§ Baroness David
My Lords, is the Minister aware that although the European Community has prohibited the trapping trade and the export of native wild birds to supply the pet trade, it allows the importation of large numbers of wild-caught birds from outside the EC? Is she also aware that the Community is the world's largest market in this respect? It imports more than 1.5 million birds each year. Therefore, is it right that the UK should be involved as an importer, and also as a middle man, for birds passing through to other countries?

§ Baroness Blatch
My Lords, as I said, it is most important to have scientific evidence to support some of the statements which have been made. Last year, 180,000 birds were imported, of which 13 per cent. either died in transit or during the quarantine period. Clearly, the situation needs to be looked at and such numbers reduced. However, the European Community is now considering whether to produce a 434 regulation which would enable member states to restrict imports of species which do not travel well or which are unlikely to survive in captivity. The Government are considering which species should he covered by such a regulation.