§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2002,Official Report, column 311W, on bird registration, what the significant increase in enforcement action was that caused the increase in costs of running her Department's bird registration scheme between 2000–01 and 2001–02; how 234WS many police forces were involved; and how many (a) pending court cases and (b) convictions have resulted from this action. [89282]
§ Mr. MorleyThe increase in enforcement costs from 2000–01 to 2001–02 was due partly to increased pay and overhead costs and partly to the recruitment of a number of new inspectors to widen the spread of expertise available to the Department.
Increased enforcement does not necessarily result in a higher number of court cases as the chief aim of the wildlife inspectors is to deter crime. The number of pending court cases and convictions and the number of police forces involved in taking them forward in 2000–01 and 2001–02 were as follows:
2000–01 2001–02 Pending cases 0 3 Convictions 3 1 Police forces 3 1
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2002,Official Report, column 312W, on bird registration, what evidence she collated that de-registration of bird species currently listed on schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 will not lead to an increase in illegal taking from the wild; and what assessment her Department has made of the cost implications for (a) enforcement and (b) conservation agencies of de-registration. [89283]
§ Mr. MorleyThe reason for the consultation was to obtain views and evidence on the possible impact of any changes to Schedule 4. We are still analysing the responses.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact on the United Kingdom peregrine falcon population of removing that species from schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. [89284]
§ Mr. MorleyNo assessment has been made. The development of any future proposals for species to be excluded from Schedule 4 would be accompanied by an appropriate assessment.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2002,Official Report, column 311W, on bird registration, what percentage of her Department's bird registration fees were paid by birdkeepers in (a) 1991–92 and (b) 2001–02. [89285]
§ Mr. MorleyIn 1991–92,33 per cent. of the costs of providing the service were recovered and 2001–02, 14 per cent. of costs were recovered.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2002,Official Report, column 311W, on bird registration, whether changes were made to the fees charged following the consultation on Review of Bird Registration and CITES licensing fees undertaken in July 1999. [89286]
235WS
§ Mr. MorleyNo changes were made to any fees following the consultation on the review of bird registration and CITES licensing fees undertaken in 1999 because of concerns expressed by consultees.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2002,Official Report, column 311W, on bird registration, how many birds were registered with her Department's bird registration scheme in (a) 1991–92 and (b) 2001–02; and what cost savings her Department has made in the running of the scheme following the 1994 review of Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. [89287]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Department no longer holds data on how many birds were registered in 1991–92. Before the changes to Schedule 4 in 1993 there were 19,466 birds registered. At 1 January 2002, 6,918 birds were registered.
In 1991–92 the total costs of Bird Registration were £309,769 and in 2001–02 total costs were £441,557. Because of changes to the species and numbers of birds being registered it is impossible to assess meaningful figures for savings achieved.