§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in respect of each of the 10 licences that they have granted to allow the shooting of Greenland Whitefronted geese, they will state the number of birds that have so far been shot under each licence; what procedures they have for checking reports of birds shot; and whether licence holders are required to hand over to them any birds shot, or whether such birds may be sold.
The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sanderson or Bowden)Thirteen licences have been issued to date. The purpose of shooting is to complement and enhance the effectiveness of other scaring methods. At the most recent count, 28 Greenland Whitefronted geese had been killed under 751WA licence. Eight of the licensees had killed no geese; one had killed 19 geese; another had killed 3 geese and three had each killed 2 geese. Information about the numbers of birds shot is obtained directly from licensees by officials of my department. Licensees are required to submit the carcases to the Nature Conservancy Council for inspection; the dead geese may not be sold.
§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in respect of the 28 applications for licences to shoot Greenland Whitefronted geese that they have recently received, what views the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) expressed about whether these licences should be granted, and in particular, in respect of the 10 licences that they have granted, whether the NCC agreed in advance that these licences should be granted.
§ Lord Sanderson of BowdenThirty-one applications to shoot Greenland Whitefronted geese have been received from occupiers of land on Islay and 13 have been granted. The Nature Conservancy Council were given advance notice of the intention to issue these licences but it was not possible to obtain their agreement because they are opposed in principle to the granting of licences to shoot Greenland Whitefronted geese.