§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent shooting of seals off the East Coast; and what steps were taken to prevent unnecessary cruelty.
§ Mr. CarlisleAs I explained in reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 9th July, my right hon. Friend has at present no powers to impose restrictions on the killing of the common seal; nor has he any powers to control the methods used for killing seals until the Conservation of Seals Act, 1970 comes into force on 29th August, 1970.—[Vol. 803, c.89.]