§ Mr. SutcliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received regarding the harmful effect on the racing pigeon population of raptors. [89658]
§ Mr. Meale[holding answer 2 July 1999]: My Department has received a number of representations concerning the effect of raptors on racing pigeons. This issue is being considered by the Raptor Working Group co-chaired by my Department and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The working group is due to make its final report before the end of the year. To assist the working group in drawing its conclusions my Department let a research contract to assess the impact of raptor predation on pigeons and to investigate the effectiveness of non-lethal deterrents. It is hoped that the findings of this research will help to provide some guide to pigeon fanciers as to how they may best reduce any losses they may be incurring.
§ Mr. SutcliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will use his powers under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to control raptors. [89417]
§ Mr. Meale[holding answer 2 July 19991: Raptors are protected by Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This reflects obligations under the EC Wild Birds Directive 79/409/EEC to protect all naturally 378W occurring species of birds. The control raptors can only be licensed for the reasons set out in Section 16 of the 1981 Act, provided that there is no other satisfactory solution.