Frogs and Toads

HC Deb 25 January 1993 vol 217 c595W

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of any change in the population of frogs and toads; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Baldry

Within Great Britain the Joint Nature Conservation Committee advise that the conservation status and recent trend for each species is as follows:

	Population status	Trend
Common frog	Widespread	Slight increase
Common toad	Widespread	Slight decrease
Natterjack toad	Threatened	Slight decrease

All three species are given protection by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The common frog and common toad are covered by provisions relating to sale. As a species, the natterjack toad is fully protected under the Act. In 1992, English Nature announced that the natterjack toad would be included in its "recovery" programme. The objectives of the recovery project are to maintain existing populations and re-establish the species on suitable sites.