§ Lord MELCHETTasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps have been taken by the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) in the last 12 months to safeguard colonies of the Greater Horseshoe Bat in Devon, South Glamorgan and Gloucestershire, and whether the NCC are satisfied that 1474WA the future of these colonies of one of the three rarest mammals in this country is now assured.
§ Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTONI am advised that the Nature Conservancy Council have in the last 12 months taken steps, by agreement with the owners, to safeguard the breeding roosts of Greater Horseshoe Bats, in South Wales and Gloucestershire. The NCC continue to seek ways of safeguarding the colony in Devon. However, an absolute assurance for the future of these colonies cannot be given since the species is susceptible to environmental changes outside the control of the NCC.
§ Lord MELCHETTasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the current position of the colony of Greater Horseshoe Bats in Dorset, whether the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) are now in a position to take steps to safeguard this endangered colony, what progress has been made in safeguarding the site in the last 12 months, and how long the NCC estimate the colony will survive if steps are not taken to safeguard it.
§ Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTONI am advised that the Nature Conservancy Council have not been able within their budget to allocate funds to safeguard the colony of Greater Horseshoe Bats in Dorset in the last 12 months. It has not so far been possible to obtain adequate financial assistance from non-government sources. The population of the colony has decreased to about 100 owing to the continued decay of the building used as the breeding roost. Further deterioration in the coming winter could gravely jeopardise the survival of the colony.