§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many field visits his staff made in 1994 to assess reported damage by eider ducks at shellfish farms prior to the issue of a licence for the killing of this bird. [19149]
§ Sir Hector MonroA site visit was made prior to the approval of the one licence to shoot eiders issued during 1994.
§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications his staff have received for licences to kill eider ducks at shellfish farms during each year since 1987. [19141]
§ Sir Hector MonroSince 1987 three applications have been received under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to kill eider ducks at shellfish farms in Scotland. One application was received in 1991, one in 1994 and one in 1995.
§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many licences have been issued during each year since 1981 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the killing of eider ducks at shellfish farms; and what bag limits were imposed on these licences. [19147]
§ Sir Hector MonroTwo licences have been issued since 1981 both in respect of the same site. The first, for the period 23 November to 31 December 1994, had a limit of 50 eider ducks and eight were reported as shot. The second was from 14 March to 30 April 1995 with a limit of 20 birds.
§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Scottish Natural Heritage about the siting of mussel farms in relation to eider duck populations. [19139]
§ Sir Hector MonroNone. The siting of mussel farms is primarily a matter for the Crown Estate Commissioners, who consult SNH and other appropriate interests before granting leases for such developments.
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§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has received from Scottish Natural Heritage on the issuing of licences to kill eider ducks during 1994; and if he will publish it. [19150]
§ Sir Hector MonroSNH advised against the issue of a licence on the single application received in 1994. The basis of SNH's advice was that the farm had been badly sited and that the solution to the predation problem was to relocate it.
§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence is used to justify the granting of a licence to allow the killing of eider ducks at a shellfish farm; and if he will make it his practice to publish it. [19148]
§ Sir Hector MonroBefore any licence application is considered, evidence is required on the amount and significance of the expected damage to shellfish at the farm. It is not the practice to publish information on actual or likely damage in relation to specific businesses.
§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what methods of non-lethal predator control his staff insist must be tried at shellfish farms before any licence is issued for the killing of eider ducks. [19140]
§ Sir Hector MonroEach application is assessed on its merits. However a range of non-lethal methods, such as nets and scarers, must have been tried before a licence to shoot is considered.