HL Deb 21 October 1985 vol 467 c952WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Scotland) have (a) appointed an ecologist to advise on wildlife conservation and (b) set up an environmental policy unit, since the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 came into force, and if not, why not.

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

No such appointment has been made nor has the Department set up an Environment Policy Unit. Advice on ecological questions is available from the Scottish Colleges of Agriculture and in appropriate cases from MAFF. Co-ordination of environmental policy generally within the Scottish Office is undertaken by the Scottish Development Department, with which the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries works closely.

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether advice is available to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Scotland) from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's ecologist or environmental policy unit.

Lord Gray of Contin

Advice from these sources is available where appropriate.

Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of the increased emphasis now being placed on wildlife and landscape conservation in implementing agricultural policy, they will take steps to find out how many people with academic qualifications in countryside or nature conservation or ecology are currently employed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Scotland).

Lord Gray of Contin

Steps have now been taken to enable this kind of information to be collated. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland currently employs eight officers with these qualifications.