HL Deb 04 July 2001 vol 626 cc46-7WA
Lord Beaumont of Whitley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 15 June 2000 (WA 207), what progress has been made with the Ascension Island feral cat programme; whether they believe that the sooty tern population is now sustainable; whether further measures will have to be taken; and, if so, what. [HL31]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos)

My honourable friend John Battle, the then Minister of State, announced on 26 March 2001 that the FCO was making available £500,000 to support a project to be implemented by the RSPB and the island's administration to restore the seabird breeding colonies on Ascension Island.

The sooty tern population can only be sustainable if the threats to the sooty tern breeding colonies can be removed. Recent surveys have shown a reduction in the number of feral cats near the breeding grounds.

The RSPB plans to eradicate feral cats completely from the breeding grounds and eventually to eradicate rats too. The RSPB and the Administration hope to implement methods and procedures to prevent rats from returning to the island.