§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the changes of breeding status for the natterjack toad which have occurred during the last 10 years; and if acidification of breeding ponds has played a major role in these changes.
§ Mrs. RumboldI am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that the most recent survey of natterjack toad populations, carried out in 1980, concluded that there had been no significant changes in breeding status of this species since the early 1970s.
Acidification has generally not been a problem, since most breeding sites are within areas of calcareous sand dunes. However, there is concern about acidification at one heathland site in southern England and the Nature Conservancy Council is funding an investigation there.