HL Deb 05 February 1987 vol 484 cc417-8WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Natural Environment Research Council Committee, on which the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, DAFS, and the Sea Mammal Research Unit are represented, reviews the direction and progress of all government-funded research on seals including any research carried out by, or funded by, DAFS.

Baroness Hooper

The Natural Environment Research Council Committee on seals, (established March 1986) on which the NERC Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), MAFF, DAFS, NCC and independent UK and overseas experts are represented, provides scientific advice to the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Secretary of State for Scotland on matters relating to the management of seal populations, as required under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970. The committee also reviews the direction and progress of SMRU research on seals in the context of national and international seal research to which the committee has access. The committee has not had the opportunity to review the direction and progress of all government-funded research on seals carried out by, or funded by, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland.