§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of cormorants in Scotland; and if their number is declining.
§ Mr. AncramI understand from the Nature Conservancy Council that the last survey of cormorants was carried out in 1969–70 when it was established that there were 3,671 breeding pairs in Scotland. There is no evidence to show that their number is declining, but I understand that a pilot study is being undertaken by the British Trust for Ornithology later this year which will seek to determine the present number of cormorants.