HC Deb 11 July 1988 vol 137 cc20-1W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the number of golden eagles killed by poisoned bait in Scotland over the past five years; and how many have been killed on Islay.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

In the period from 1 January 1983 to 30 June 1988 12 golden eagles are known to have been killed by poison in Scotland. Two of these were killed on Islay.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the number of wild birds killed by the use of poisoned bait in Scotland since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Comprehensive information on the numbers of wild birds killed in Scotland by poison is not available because precise numbers are not always recorded in the case of multiple deaths involving corvids, gulls and some passerine species. Between 1 January 1979 and 30 June 1988, 546 birds are known to have been killed by the use of poisoned bait.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has concerning the death of two sea eagles in Scotland caused by poisoning; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

There is positive evidence of one sea eagle having been killed by the poison mevinphos in Caithness in April 1981. Another sea eagle found on Skye in November 1981 may have been killed by poison. By the time that the carcase was found it was almost completely decomposed and no analysis for pesticide residues could be undertaken.

Mr. Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many birds of prey have been reported poisoned each year over the past five years; and how many successful prosecutions for poisoning birds of prey there have been each year over the past five years.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Over the period from 1 January 1983 to 30 June 1988 the numbers of birds of prey reported as having been poisoned in Scotland were:

Birds
1983 20
1984 8
1985 13
1986 220
1987 11
11988 12
1 To 30 June.
2 Including 6 herons.

No statistics of successful prosecutions by category of offence under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are available centrally.

Forward to