§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to place in the public domain full details of all licences issued under section 4 of the Badgers Act 1991; if he will ensure that such information specifies the named persons to whom licences have been issued, to which setts they refer, for which purposes they have been authorised, and the duration for which they are valid; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanIt is intended that cumulative information on licensing under section 4 of the Badgers Act 1991 will be made available, but it is not Government policy as a general rule to release information on individual licences under wildlife legislation.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will include provision in the section 4 licensing scheme under the Badgers Act 1991 for the return of a written report from each licensee stating the circumstances and outcome of each case of sett interference; and for such reports to be made public.
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§ Mr. MacleanIt is intended that licence holders will be required to submit a report on actions taken under the authority of their licence, but these reports will not be made available to the public.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that any licences issued under section 4 of the Badgers Act 1991 take into full account the codes of practice of the Masters of Fox Hounds Association forbidding fox hunts, dogs from entering or digging into badger setts.
§ Mr. MacleanI refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 12 December 1991,Official Report, column 550.