§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances it is possible to confiscate wild birds' eggs which have been illegally collected after the Protection of Birds Act 1954 came into force; how many cases have occurred of eggs collected after 1954 but before 1981 being confiscated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [22345]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordUnder the Protection of Birds Act 1954, section 1(c), it was an offence to take or keep wild bird eggs except in specified circumstances. The present 419W law regarding the possession of wild bird eggs is set out in section 1(2) and (3) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Section 12(1)(b) of the 1954 Act enabled the police to:
seize and detain for the purposes of proceedings under this Act any wild bird, whether alive or dead, or any egg or nest of a wild bird, or any weapon or other article capable of being used to kill or take wild birds, which may be in that person's possession.Section 19(1)(d) of the 1981 Act contains similar provisions for offences committed under that Act.
No records of court confiscations are kept centrally.