HL Deb 21 December 1982 vol 437 cc1056-8WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the licences issued by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland for the control of barnacle geese on Islay are restricted to certain types of farmland, whether the department is advising those farmers and tenants who may be affected by barnacle goose damage on methods of scaring the birds away, whether such scaring techniques are being employed on Islay, and whether the department will encourage the establishment on Islay of sanctuary or alternative feeding areas which have been successful on reducing brent goose damage on the south of England.

The Earl of Mansfield

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland issues licences to permit the killing of barnacle geese on Islay for the purpose of preventing serious damage to agricultural crops, including grass. These licences are restricted to particular named farms where it is thought likely that damage may occur but, although particular types of farmland within the farm are not specified in licences, action under licence is limited to situations where agricultural crops are at risk. The department gives advice to farmers about alternative methods of scaring geese. Scaring techniques have been tried in Islay but any realistic methods have proved to be of limited efficacy and hence their present application is limited. The department will give every help and encouragement to both the Nature Conservancy Council and to farmers to negotiate management agreements under Part II of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: such agreements seem the most likely way of establishing the sort of undisturbed feeding areas which the noble Lord has in mind.

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will confirm that on 25th October 1982 a barnacle goose was shot on Islay although no licence to allow the control of barnacle geese had been issued to the landowner or farmer concerned by that date, and what action is being taken by the police to prosecute those involved in this incident.

The Earl of Mansfield

I cannot give such confirmation, although I understand that an alleged incident on or about that date involving a barnacle goose on Islay was reported to the police. If investigation of an incident by the police shows that an offence may have been committed, the decision whether or not to prosecute lies with the procurator fiscal.

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many licences to allow the control of barnacle geese on Islay have been issued by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland so far this year, whether these licences are for named individuals, and whether they may be transferred to visitors, including foreign nationals, and if so for what purpose.

The Earl of Mansfield

Thirteen licences have so far been issued to named owners or occupiers of agricultural land on Islay to permit them to prevent serious damage to agricultural crops. The named licensee may authorise three other persons, or if he does not himself shoot under the licence, four other persons; the subsidiary licence authorising such persons requires the name and address of the authorised person to be shown and may be transferred from one person to another by the named licensee from time to time. His or her nationality is not considered to be relevant. The purpose of all main and subsidiary licences is to permit the killing of barnacle geese in order to prevent serious damage to agriculture as provided for in Section 16(l)(k) of Part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland will make a full report to the EEC detailing the licences issued this year for killing barnacle geese as required by Directive 79/409, and whether they will say how many licencees are landowners, farmers and tenants on Islay, how many have a permanent address in Scotland outside Islay and how many have a permanent address in England, and whether this information will be recorded in the report to the EEC.

The Earl of Mansfield

The Government will make a report annually to the EC Commission as required by Directive 79/409. The form and content of such reports are matters for the Commission.