§ Sir J. Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what damage is done to agriculture in Scotland by wild geese; what is the latest estimate of the number of Greylag and Pinchfoot geese which winter in Scotland; and how this compares with the numbers wintering here 10 years ago.
§ Mr. BuchanIn a number of areas in Scotland wild geese do damage to grasslands and young grain crops and in severe weather also damage turnips. The number of Greylag and Pinkfoot geese wintering in Scotland fluctuates from season to season and even within seasons, but it has been estimated that the maximum number was about 60,000 Grey-lag and about 64,000 Pinkfoot in the winter of 1966–67, about 23,000 Greylag and 32,000 Pinkfoot in 1956–67.