Islay (Wild Birds) (Hansard, 8 February 1988)

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will describe the measures taken to prevent disturbance to wild birds in the proposed special protection area known as the Rinns, by the licensed shooting of white-fronted geese on Islay.

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
The special interest of the Rinns of Islay, including the habitats of wild birds, is protected by the area having been notified as a site of special scientific interest by the Nature Conservancy Council. None of the licences issued for the shooting of white-fronted geese on Islay permit shooting on land contained within the Rinns SSSI.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the impact of the killing of white-fronted geese on Islay on the conservation efforts and the distribution of the Greenland race of the species; and if he will make his policy to refuse any further applications for licences.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
As the primary objective is to scare the geese away from land being cropped, we would expect only a relatively small number to be shot.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will be measuring the effectiveness of the licences recently issued for the killing of white-fronted geese; and if a report will be made.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The issue of licences to shoot white-fronted geese is part of an overall package of measures to contain the geese within protected areas and other land providing their natural habitats. The effects of the measures are being monitored and a report will be compiled at the end of the over-wintering period.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider giving financial compensation to the farmers on Islay for damage caused by white-fronted geese and withdrawing the licences issued for shooting; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The Nature Conservancy Council has agreements with farmers within the sites of special scientific interest to compensate for goose damage. The protection of crops and improved grassland outwith these areas is essential to the continued viability of agricultural production on Islay and a more widely based compensation policy would not offer an appropriate solution.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of white-fronted geese killed to date; and if he anticipates issuing any further licences for killing them.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
Shooting is primarily intended to scare the geese and inquiries made by officials of my Department have indicated that in the period to 31 January 1988 none had been killed. The position is being kept under review and consideration will be given to the case for issuing further licences if it can he demonstrated that serious damage to crops or improved grassland is being caused by the geese.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to the reply of 20 January,Official 73W Report, column 720, he received any advice from the Nature Conservancy Council in respect of the licences to shoot white-fronted geese.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The Nature Conservancy Council was given advance notice of the proposal to issue licences to shoot white-fronted geese. It indicated that it could not support the proposal.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to the reply of 20 January,Official Report, column 720, he will detail the terms of the respective licences to shoot white-fronted geese, including the number of birds permitted to be killed under each licence.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
Since the licence is a lengthy document I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to the reply of 20 January,Official Report, column 720, he will indicate the evidence he considered in assessing the serious damage to crops for the purposes of issuing licences to kill white-fronted geese; and if he will indicate the extent to which alternative solutions were considered and tested.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
On receipt of an application for a licence to protect a farm from serious damage by white-fronted geese, experienced members of my Department's agricultural staff report on the numbers of geese feeding and the extent of the damage being caused to crops and grassland. A licence would not normally be issued unless significant numbers of geese were feeding on the land. White-fronted geese are difficult to keep away from crops for any length of time, and shooting is needed to complement other methods of scaring.