§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many licences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the removal of peregrine have been issued in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [121117]
§ Mr. MeacherThis information is published in annual reports submitted by my Department, on behalf of the United Kingdom, to the European Commission, to meet the requirements of Article 9(3) of the European Community Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC). These reports provide the reasons for each derogation made under Article 9 and therefore contain details of all licences issued under the 1981 Act, including any for the removal of peregrine.
The most recent report, the eighteenth, was published in January 2000 and covers the period 1 January—31 December 1998. It contains details of about 230 derogations in relation to peregrines for a variety of reasons, such as research and teaching. The majority do not involve permanent removal. As in previous years, the report will be made available in the House Libraries.
§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received following the publication of the report of the UK Raptor Working Group; and if he will make a statement. [121116]
§ Mr. MeacherMy Department has received a number of representations on the report of the Raptor Working Group from a range of organisations. I welcome the publication of this report and its recommendations and hope it will help provide an integrated solution to the problems presented by birds of prey to game bird managers and pigeon fanciers. My Department will shortly be seeking English Nature's advice on the implementation in England of the report's recommendations in light of these representations.
§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which organisations tendered for the project, "A Study into the Raptor Predation of Domestic Pigeons", published in March; which organisation was awarded the tender; and what the qualifications were of the individuals who researched and wrote the study. [121118]
§ Mr. MeacherIn 1995 my Department let a research contract to assess the impact of raptor predation on pigeons and to investigate the effectiveness of non-lethal deterrents.
388WTenders for the research contract were received from the Royal Agricultural College and the Hawk and Owl Trust. The contract was awarded to the Hawk and Owl Trust on the basis that they provided the best and most cost-effective methodology for investigating the extent of predation.
The research was undertaken and the report written by Hawk and Owl Trust members who have had a long history of involvement in various aspects of raptor ecology and research. They also have an extensive knowledge and experience of various aspects of survey work and are authors of numerous books, papers and articles on related topics.