Seals

HC Deb 20 February 1978 vol 944 cc505-6W

Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on whose advice he has authorised the further slaughter of seals, both adults and pups in Orkney; to whom and on what conditions licences to slaughter are being issued; how many seals and seal pups of what species are to be slaughtered; and what are the means to be used.

Mr. Millan

I have not yet authorised culling of seals anywhere in Scotland for 1978. In terms of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970, the only legal method of culling seals in this country is by

EXPENDITURE
							1976–77	1977–78(estimate)
							£	£
Revenue grants and loans to shipping operators:
West Coast and Western Isles	…	…	…	…	…	3,489,600	3,500,000
Orkney and Shetland	…	…	…	…	…	…	370,455	434,000
Capital grants and loans for transport piers and terminals*:
West Coast and Western Isles	…	…	…	…	…	54,974	893,250
Orkney and Shetland	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,033,419	918,972
* These figures include expenditure on mainland terminals.

In addition the Government are giving substantial assistance through rate support grant to expenditure by local authorities in respect of local transport services including ferries.

shooting; licences issued by my Department for 1978 will stipulate that this method be used.

Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has that, as compared with disease and sea and coastal netting, seals are seriously diminishing salmon stocks.

Mr. Millan

Scientific assessments by my Department confirm that predation by grey seals has increased substantially in the last decade due to the increase in the grey seal population. I am advised that, along with other factors such as illegal netting and disease, this predation has a serious impact on salmon stocks.

Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has authorised the slaughter of grey seals and their pups on any island in Orkney specifically acquired as a nature reserve.

Mr. Millan

Preliminary consultations have taken place about the culling of grey seals in Orkney in 1978, including the island of Little Linga, but no authorisations have yet been given.