§ Sir J. Duncanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding grey seals on the Farne Islands.
§ Mr. John HareIn consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, I have been giving very careful consideration to the threefold recommendation made by the Nature Conservancy in its last Annual Report.
The first was that scientific study should be continued and this is a matter for the Nature Conservancy. The second, that a programme of experimental work should be carried out into the protection of salmon nets against the seals, is a matter which my right hon. Friend and I are actively pursuing in association with the fishermen.
The third recommendation was that an annual cull should be carried out as an experimental and interim measure to limit further increases in the grey seal population. My right hon. Friend and I feel that it is essential to explore the possibilities of this method of control, and I have decided to arrange for a limited measure of culling to be carried out this autumn under the supervision of my Department's veterinary staff to test its practicability. The necessary Order under the Grey Seals Protection Act, 1932, 55W varying the statutory close season for grey seals on the Farne Islands will be introduced as soon as possible.