§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made so far in Leicester polytechnic's study of the population levels of frogs; when it expects to complete its research; and what assessment he has made of the implications for policy.
§ Mr. Trippier[holding answer 25 June 1990]: The Nature Conservancy Council advises me that it has contracted Leicester polytechnic to update a survey made in the early 1980s into the population status and trends of nine widespread species of amphibians and reptiles, including the common frog. Questionnaires have recently been circulated and the polytechnic is due to report to the Nature Conservancy Council in October.