§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his current policy to allow a general licence to shoot pests includes(a) sporting events and (b) mass shoots; and if he will make a statement. [121782]
§ Mr. MorleyThe shooting of certain 'pest' bird species is permitted under the terms of general licences issued by MAFF and DETR under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The general licences allow authorised persons, such as the landowner or occupier, or a person acting with the owner or occupier's permission, to kill or take certain bird species. This control is permitted for the purposes of preventing damage to agriculture (licensed by MAFF) and to preserve public health or public or air safety (licensed by DETR) and does not cover sporting events.
The populations of the species concerned are monitored and there is no evidence that their conservation status is currently threatened by any of these control measures.