§ Lord Houghton of Sowerbyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have decided to authorise another slaughter of grey seal pups in the Orkneys and Western Isles in October/November and, if so, for what purpose.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (The Earl of Mansfield)I am still considering representations on the part of conservation and fisheries interests on what, if any, licences for the killing of grey seals should be issued in 1982. Any hunting of grey seal pups—as opposed to any management action to control the grey seal population in Scottish waters—would be licensed in terms of Section 10(c)(iii) of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970; that is, the use of a population surplus as a resourse.