HC Deb 16 December 2003 vol 415 cc847-8W
Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what evidence he has collated on the change in the Irish hare population since 1995 in Northern Ireland. [144619]

Angela Smith

Research carried out at the Queen's University of Belfast (QUB) reported in 1997 that the population of the Irish Hare was at low density in Northern Ireland.

This assessment was followed up by a research study, 'The Northern Ireland Irish Hare Lepus timidus hibernicus Survey 2002', commissioned by the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) of the Department of the Environment and also carried out by QUB. It reported that Irish Hares were widespread but occurred at a low density of about 1 to 2 per square kilometre.

The Irish Hare Species Action Plan, published by EHS in 2000, has among its objectives a target to double the Irish Hare population, over as wide an area as possible, by 2010. There will be regular surveys of the Irish Hare population through to 2010. These will identify population trends and assess progress against the objectives in the Irish Hare Species Action Plan. The first of these surveys will be undertaken in Spring 2004.

Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library, the scientific evidence he is using as the basis for his proposal for a temporary ban on hare hunting in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2004. [144620]

Angela Smith

I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Vauxhall on 11 December 2003.Official Report, column 577W.