Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

HC Deb 14 July 1986 vol 101 cc324-5W

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, when issuing licences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, checks are made to ensure that applicants have not been convicted under that or other relevant legislation; and if the applicant is required to make any signed declaration to prove that his or her record is satisfactory.

Mr. Waldegrave

My Department checks where possible that applicants for licences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 have not been convicted of offences under the 1981 Act or other relevant legislation.

Applicants for licences to take birds of prey from the wild are required to declare convictions under the Protection of Birds Act 1954 and 1967 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; applicants for licences to take birds for the purposes of aviculture, or to take birds by certain methods are additionally required to declare convictions under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976.