HC Deb 24 April 1995 vol 258 cc402-3W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the threat to sheep and lambs by magpies and grey-backed crows; what proposals he has to reduce the presence of magpies and grey-backed crows; and if he will make a statement. [19755]

Mr. Moss

Information is not available on the threat posed to sheep and lambs by magpies and grey-backed, or hooded crows.

There are no proposals to reduce the presence of magpies and grey-backed crows; existing controls under the wildlife legislation are considered to be adequate.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what change has occurred(a) in the population of magpies and grey-backed crows and (b) in the number of attacks on young lambs by magpies and grey-backed crows in the last five years; what is the impact of the species on song bird populations; what proposals he has to control numbers of magpies and grey-backed crows; and if he will make a statement. [19920]

Mr. Moss

Specific information in relation to Northern Ireland for the past five years is not available. Overall UK figures for 1992–93 indicate an increase in the populations of magpies and crows as follows:

Species Population size in Northern Ireland 1993 Annual rate of change in Northern Ireland 1992–93 (per cent.) Annual rate of change in UK 1992–93 (per cent.)
Crow 49,500 n/a +4.7
Magpie 58,900 +2.3 +2.5
n/a = not available.

Information is not available on the number of attacks on young lambs by magpies and grey-backed, or hooded, crows in the last five years.

Recent research in England and Wales has shown that there is no correlation between the number of magpies and the breeding success of song birds. No similar research has been carried out in Northern Ireland, but population densities of magpies and song birds are similar and there is no reason to believe that the situation is different from that in Great Britain.

There are no proposals to reduce the presence of magpies and grey-backed crows; existing controls under the wildlife legislation are considered to be adequate.