§ 122. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a further statement on the grey seals colony on the Farne Islands.
§ Mr. GodberThe Nature Conservancy considers that the evidence points to the need for control of the breeding population on the Farnes but suggest that further culling should be deferred until the National Trust which owns the islands is satisfied that this is the only method of control likely to succeeed. At present the National Trust is not convinced of this.
Meanwhile the Nature Conservancy is putting in hand a study of the interaction between grey seals and salmon, with the help of a grant from the Development Fund. Therefore, my right hon. Friend does not propose any further experiments in culling until some progress has been made with this inquiry.