§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will confirm that a licence has been issued to a farmer on Islay in Scotland allowing the killing of barnacle geese, despite the fact that the land in question has never been visited by the species and that no agricultural damage has been caused on this land by barnacle geese.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Gray of Contin)No. Licences have been issued only in respect of farms on which past agricultural damage has been reported.
§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many barnacle geese were killed under licence on Islay in Scotland during the winter of 1982–83, and what estimate they have of population recruitment to the Islay wintering flock of this species following the 1982 breeding season.
§ Lord Gray of ContinThe number of barnacle geese killed under licence on Islay during the winter of 1982–83 was 956. The estimate of population recruitment to the Islay wintering flock of barnacle geese following the 1982 breeding season measured by the number of young birds which arrived on Islay in autumn 1982 was 860. The equivalent recruitment figure for the 1983 breeding season is estimated at between 1,500 and 1,600.