§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What changes they have made to the general licences issued under Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. [HL1627]
§ Lord WhittyOn 10 February 2005 Defra announced the removal of the house sparrow and starling from general licences. This was supplemented at the time by a press release and a table of proposed changes to be made to general licences. This included reference to a condition regarding the use of non-lethal alternatives.
The press release and table can be accessed via the following link, www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/ 050210a.htm.
On 9 March 2005 in order to clear up misunderstanding in relation to the obligation to consider appropriate non-lethal methods Defra amended the wording of the general licence condition to read, "This licence can only be relied on in circumstances where the authorised person is satisfied that appropriate non-lethal methods of control such as scaring are either ineffective or impracticable".
A press notice was issued and the revised licences were immediately published on the Defra website. A copy of the press notice can be accessed via the following link, www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/ 050309c.htm.