§ Mr. HeppellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provision exists at present for local authorities to protect people and domesticated animals from attacks by mink and arctic fox. [894]
§ Mrs. BrowningMink and arctic foxes may be killed or taken by owners and occupiers of land if they feel that this is necessary to prevent damage, provided that the method used does not contravene current legislation, such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. General advice on pest control is available from the local offices of ADAS, the Ministry's wildlife advisers.
§ Mr. HeppellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many mink and arctic fox are known to have escaped or been released from fur farms from 1990–91 to 1994–95. [895]
§ Mrs. BrowningThe Ministry has received no reports of any mink or arctic foxes known to have been released or have escaped from fur farms in the period since 1990.
§ Mr. HeppellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he received from the Farm Animal Welfare Council on the listing of mink and arctic fox under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. [893]
§ Mrs. BrowningIn 1994, the Farm Animal Welfare Council recommended that consideration be given to the inclusion of American mink, Arctic fox and racoon dog in the schedule to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. After consulting interested organisations my colleagues and I concluded that this, being a general approach, would not offer any welfare advantages to the species concerned. General protection for the welfare of animals farmed for their fur is already provided by the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 and its subordinate regulations. Any more specific requirements must, in our view, be introduced on a European basis.
A copy of the letter sent to interested organisations explaining our views more fully, dated 24 August 1995, has been placed in the Library of the House.