§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many birds, by species, were illegally killed by poisons in the Tayside region for each of the last two years.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe numbers of birds, by species, reported to have been illegally killed by pesticides in Tayside region are as follows:
Number 1987 Corvids 3 Gulls 2 Buzzard 1 1988 Corvids 20 Buzzards 2 Gulls 2 Eagle 1 1989 to date Corvids 3 Buzzard 1
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 4 December, on how many occasions during each of the last five years he has drawn to the attention of the Islay estates owners the requirements of the law relating to the illegal poisoning of birds.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe policy referred to in my answer of 4 December was introduced in 1988 following the golden eagle poisoning incidents on the Islay estate that year. The policy was also operated this year in the light of the poisoning incidents referred to in my previous answer. Prior to 1988, the attention of the Islay estates was not formally drawn to the incidents.