§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library copies of the reports he 696W received upon which he based his decision over the refusal of the issuing of a special licence to crofters at Glenelg under schedule 1 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1983.
§ Mr. AncramWhen an application is received for a licence to kill a bird listed in schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1983 for the purposes of preventing serious damage to livestock, crops etc., my right hon. Friend makes appropriate inquiries into the probable cause, and the seriousness, of the damage and seeks advice also on conservation issues. The advice he receives on these various matters is not customarily made public and I see no reason to depart from the normal practice in this case.
§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement detailing the communications he received on the merits or otherwise of granting a special licence to crofters at Glenelg under schedule 1 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1983.
§ Mr. AncramFollowing a number of telephone calls and one letter regarding the issue of a licence, my right hon. Friend called for and received reports on the agricultural and conservation issues involved. Having considered these representations and reports, his decision was that a special licence should not be issued.