§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences to cull cormorants were issued by Her Majesty's Government in each of the last five years. [85773]
§ Mr. MorleyLicences are issued to shoot a limited number of cormorants as an aid to scaring. The number of licences issued for the last five years in England are as follows:
Number of licences issued 1 May 1994–30 April 1995 35 1 May 1995–30 April 1996 50 1 May 1996–30 April 1997 47 1 May 1997–30 April 1998 70 1 May 1998–28 February 19991 71 1 Latest figures available Details of licences issued in Wales and Scotland are the responsibility of the respective Secretaries of State.