§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will take any action in response to the advice of the Nature Conservancy Council regarding the position of the otter in England and Wales;
(2) if he has received advice from the Nature Conservancy Council in regard to the inclusion of the otter in Schedule 1 to the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act, or about the position and population of the otter in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the Joint Otter Group's report that otters in England and Wales are endangered including by factors restricted under the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act 1975, he will place the otter on Schedule 1 to that Act.
§ Mr. MarksFollowing the publication of the report of the Joint Otter Group, the Nature Conservancy Council has advised that the otter is endangered in certain areas by a variety of factors and that steps should be taken to prevent any further decline in its numbers and, if possible, to improve its status. The council will now be actively participating in a programme of habitat restoration and management, which I understand will include the establishment of otter havens on a non-statutory basis. I welcome these562W practical conservation measures, and my Department is ready to offer what help it can towards their implementation.
The council also recommended that statutory protection should be given to the otter in England and Wales, but I am seeking further information from the council about its conclusions to enable a decision to be taken on whether the otter can properly be added to Schedule One to the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act 1975.