§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many licences have been issued in each year since 1988 to possess birds of prey; and what were the numbers of birds of each species held under such licences. [21244]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many permits have been issued to falconers to take protected species of birds as quarry in each year since 1988; what were the species in respect of which such permits were issued; and what were the numbers of each species taken. [21246]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe responsibility for the issue of licences did not devolve to the Welsh Office until 1991. Details of licences issued to take protected species in Wales in the course of falconry for the period 1992–93 are listed in the following table.
Species Number of licenses1 Birds killed 1992 Alauda arvensis 4 16 Anthus pratensis — 1 1993 Turdus merula 3 16 1994 Turdus merula 5 8 Alauda arvensis — 20 Anthus pratensis — 1 1995 Alauda arvensis 1 19 Anthus pratensis — 3 1 Licenses covered all or some of the named species. Turdus merula—Blackbird
Alauda arvensis—Skylark
Anthus pratensis—Meadow pipit.