§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the size and location of each mink farm currently operating in Scotland;
(2) how many licences are current for the operation of mink farms in Scotland; what the figure was 12 months ago; and if he will give similar information for the number of mink farms actually in operation.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythAs at 31 March 1988 there were six licences for the farming of mink covering eight farms in force in Scotland. All of these farms are currently operational. As at 31 March 1987 seven licences were in force covering eight farms.
Farms currently in operation are located in the undernoted regions of Scotland:
Region Number Central 1 Grampian 2 Lothian 1 Strathclyde 12 Tayside 2 1 The renewal of a licence for one of these farms is currently under consideration following a change of ownership. Two of these farms carry stocks of over 5,000 mink; the remainder carry stocks of less than 5,000.