§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason her Department granted a licence to Wyevale Garden Centre near Thornbury to shoot robins; and if she will make a statement. [176392]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 27 May 2004]: The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes provision for a system of licensing to allow certain persons to undertake actions against birds which would otherwise be illegal in terms or the Act.
Section 16(1)(i) gives powers to the Secretary of State to grant licences for the purpose of preserving public health or public or air safety, subject to there being no other satisfactory solution.
An application was received by the Department to kill a small number of robins that were persistently fouling a cafeteria located within a garden centre. The application was considered by one of the Department's wildlife management advisers and based on the adviser's recommendation the licensing unit granted a licence to allow up to four robins to be killed to preserve public health and safety. An investigation of this case, showing that the shooting of the birds by a pest control company was legal and proper procedures were followed, was published on the DEFRA website (www.defra.gov.uk) on 11 June.