§ Baroness Gould of Potternewtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will provide continuing protection for seals under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970, following the expiry of the order laid under Section 3(1) in 1996. [HL67]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office (Mr O'Brien), has now laid before Parliament the Conservation of Seals (England) Order 1999, which provides permanent close season protection for common seals and grey seals in an area stretching along the North Sea coast from the border between England and Scotland to Newhaven on the south coast. The order will come into force on 19 December to coincide with the expiry of the order laid in 1996.