§ Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are taken to limit the slaughter of grey seal pups to the number approved; and what evidence he has regarding the main food of the Orkney Seals.
§ Mr. NoblePermit holders in Orkney were required to report each week to the Department's officer in Kirkwall the number of seals shot, but owing to the time taken to get returns from the remoter islands it was usually late on Tuesday before information about the number shot up to the preceding Saturday was available to the Department.202W All Orkney permits were withdrawn by telegram on Wednesday, 20th November, when the number reported killed up to the preceding Saturday was known to be some 65 below the target of 750 seals, by then the number actually killed had exceeded the target by 224. Consideration is being given to the possibility of exercising tighter control in any future operation.
The report of the Consultative Committee on Grey Seals and Fisheries concluded that seals eat a wide variety of fish of potential commercial value including a considerable quantity of salmon.
§ Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many grey seal pups have been slaughtered in Orkney this autumn.