§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from pigeon fanciers requesting a cull of peregrine hawks; and if he will make a statement. [14030]
§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonThe Government have received a number of calls from pigeon fanciers over the last two years for the licensed control of birds of prey.
A raptor forum and working group was established in 1995, under the joint chairmanship of the Department of the Environment and the Joint Nature Conversation Committee. The group is currently assessing the interaction between racing pigeons, raptors and game birds and will provide advice to Government on this complex issue as it becomes available.
§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the population of peregrine hawks in Scotland in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [14031]
§ Mr. RobertsonThe numbers of peregrine falcons breeding in Scotland are not monitored annually on a countrywide basis. The last full survey, in 1991, recorded 625 pairs in Scotland. Local surveys of regularly occupied sites indicate expanding populations in some areas, balanced by some decline in other areas.