Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 14 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 March 2005. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Monday, 21 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many individuals of each bird species, other than cormorants, have been killed as a result of licences granted to control cormorants since the change of policy on cormorant control.

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many individuals of each bird species, other than cormorants, have been killed as a result of licences granted to control cormorants since the change of policy on cormorant control. [222301] Mr. Bradshaw: We do not hold data on the numbers of individuals of bird species which have been killed as a result of licences granted to control cormorants. Licences are granted for the shooting of a specific number of cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) for a specific purpose (usually preventing serious damage to fisheries) and within a specified location and time frame. This is all clearly laid out on the licence. The shooting of any other species not identified on the licence, whether deliberate or by accident, is not authorised by the licence. A condition of a licence to shoot cormorants is to provide six-monthly returns of the number of cormorants shot under licence. Information on the accidental (or otherwise) shooting of other species is not requested.

Secondary information