§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has concerning the number of badgers and the current number of active badger setts in Scotland; how many such setts have been destroyed during the last three years; and for what reasons.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonInformation on Scotland's badger population is given in the Nature Conservancy Council's publication "The history, distribution, status and habitat requirements of the badger in Britain", a copy of which is in the Library.
No information is available about the number of setts destroyed during the last three years.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken during the last five years to ensure the protection of the badger population and active badger setts from damaging forestry operations.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythBadger setts are not on the whole vulnerable to damage from forestry operations, since they572W are characteristically large, subterranean and in well-drained soils. The Forestry Commission nevertheless endeavours to locate all the badger setts on its land so that they can be protected from any possible damage. It has also published forest nature conservation guidelines, for use by its own forest managers and those in the private sector, which emphasise the importance of good management in protecting animal populations.