Lord Chappieasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of increasing attacks by sparrowhawks and peregrine falcons on valuable racing pigeons, and the fact that peregrine falcons now exceed three thousand pairs throughout the United Kingdom, they will review the laws protecting these raptors.
§ The Earl of ArranRacing pigeons may be taken by birds of prey, but the Government are not aware of evidence to show that large numbers are being lost for this reason.
Peregrine and sparrowhawk populations are recover-ing from low levels caused by toxic poisoning, but recovery of the peregrine is not uniform and numbers remain low in parts of England and Scotland; a 1991 survey found 1,283 pairs in the UK.
On present evidence, the Government see no justification for reducing the level of protection for these species.