HL Deb 15 April 1985 vol 462 c592WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will state, in respect of licences issued to kill herons in Scotland in 1984 to prevent serious damage to fisheries,

  1. (i) how may applications for licences were received;
  2. (ii) how many licences they issued;
  3. (iii) how many herons can be killed under these licences;
  4. (iv) whether the Nature Conservancy Council were consulted separately over each application received;
  5. (v) whether advice on deterring herons was given to applicants for licences in all cases where licences were granted, and whether such advice was given in all cases where a licence was not granted;
  6. (vi) how many licences are still in force;
  7. (vii) how many herons were killed during 1984 under licences issued in 1984; and
  8. (viii) how many herons were killed in 1984 under licences issued in previous years.

The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Gray of Contin)

The following information relates to licences issued by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland in 1984 to kill herons in Scotland to prevent serious damage to fisheries;

  1. (i) six applications for licences were received from inland fish farmers
  2. (ii) six licences were granted;
  3. (iii) no limits were placed on the number of birds to be killed;
  4. (iv) the Nature Conservancy Council were not consulted separately over each application; licensing policy is however in accord with the advice obtained after consultation with the NCC;
  5. (v) the advice of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was made generally available to all applicants for licences;
  6. (vi) all licences issued in 1984 expired on 31st December 1984;
  7. (vii) 44 herons were killed in 1984 under licences issued in that year;
  8. (viii) none; all licences issued prior to 1984 expired on 31st December 1983.