§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland has developed detailed guidelines for the issue of licences under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to allow the control of protected fauna doing serious damage; and whether it is normal practice for the Nature Conservancy Council to be consulted on each such licence application and for each damage site to be visited by his Department's technical staff before any licences are issued.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe Department has guidelines for the use of its staff in considering applications for the issue of licences under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
In regard to applications relating to the protection of crops, where there is likely to be evidence of damage, it is the normal practice to consult the Nature Conservancy Council in each case; and a visit is usually made by a member of the Department's technical staff, though in some instances recommendations are made on the basis of their knowledge of the local situation.
In regard to the issue of licences for the protection of fisheries, my right hon. Friend has decided that it would be impracticable to consult the NCC about individual applications, or to visit each site. Decisions are taken in accordance with general advice given by the council.