§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many licences were granted in the year ending 31st May 1989 to shoot Greenland white fronted geese on Islay; and whether they will state the number of birds that have been shot under each licence.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sanderson of Bowden)Thirteen licences were issued, 76 geese were shot under licence as follows:
No. of Licencees No. of geese shot 6 Nil 2 2 each 1 4 1 8 1 12 1 21 1 27
§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give specific examples of serious damage to crops and grassland on Islay caused by Greenland white fronted geese in the most recent three-year period for which information is available, stating the crops involved, and the particular farm affected.
§ Lord Sanderson of BowdenAssessments of damage by Greenland white fronted geese over a three-year period are not available. Until the winter of 1987–88 white fronted geese had been specifically associated only with damage to root crops. It has, however, become clear since then that they are also causing damage to improved grassland and barley crops outwith the protected areas of Islay.
Licences to shoot white fronted geese were issued only in cases where my department's professional officers were satisfied that conventional methods of scaring were not by themselves providing an adequate level of protection. In all 13 cases there was a need to prevent serious damage to grassland. Within that total, turnip crops were in addition being damaged on four farms and fodder beet on one farm, and on three farms there was a need to safeguard newly sown barley crops.
§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to request from the European Commission, in accordance with 1284WA Article 9 of the EC Directive on Wild Birds, a derogation in respect of the hunting of breeding stock of Greenland white fronted geese.