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2005-06
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2005-06 (17)
Year
Department
Member
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Answering member
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
Publisher
My Lords, there is no question but that the grey squirrel does a lot of harm, and I cannot agree with my Front Bench about contraception. I think that a more practical way of controlling grey squirrels, one which does work, is to pay a substantial sum for every squirrel tail handed in.
My Lords, there is no question but that the grey squirrel does a lot of harm, and I cannot agree with my Front Bench about contraception. I think that a more practical way of controlling grey squirrels, one which does work, is to pay a substantial sum for every squirrel tail handed in.
Asked by
Lord Mackie of Benshie
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 November 2006
My Lords, I have to say that that is a very old-fashioned approach. It did not work, it is not cost-effective or value for money, and as a policy it was abandoned in 1958.
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c641
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does the Minister accept the findings of the report to which my noble friend referred in the first Question as good evidence on the research side? The evidence falls into two parts, the first being the problem with regard to farmland and the other being the problem with regard to woodland birds themselves. What research is being done on both accounts?
My Lords, does the Minister accept the findings of the report to which my noble friend referred in the first Question as good evidence on the research side? The evidence falls into two parts, the first being the problem with regard to farmland and the other being the problem with regard to woodland birds themselves. What research is being done on both accounts?
Asked by
Baroness Byford
(Conservative)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 November 2006
My Lords, the last thing that I want to do is to knock the report by Songbird Survival, but the fact is, by implication from my first and second responses, we do not accept all the science in it. We have asked the trust to share any of its unpublished evidence with the scientific community. There is a problem here, but songbird populations are on the up. Since 1995, an increase of 6 per cent has been measured on the index of woodland birds, although the current level is only around 60 per cent of the 1970 figure. Nevertheless, as I say, it is on the up. We believe that the number of songbirds may have dropped to the bottom and is now starting to come up again. This is in part due to changes in farming practices. Over a six-year period in the 1980s and 1990s, farmers were paid to dig up the hedgerows. We lost 25 per cent of the hedgerows in this country, which is bound to have affected birdlife. Today we are paying farmers to put the hedges back again and we can see birdlife populations increase because of different, environmental farming practices.
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c641
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does the noble Lord agree that grey squirrels can decimate oak trees? I planted some 300 oaks and virtually half of them have been destroyed. We are allowed to use only a very few of the poisons now available to try to deal with this problem.
My Lords, does the noble Lord agree that grey squirrels can decimate oak trees? I planted some 300 oaks and virtually half of them have been destroyed. We are allowed to use only a very few of the poisons now available to try to deal with this problem.
Asked by
Baroness Sharples
(Conservative)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 November 2006
My Lords, I am not knocking the grey squirrel, because it is very popular with people in urban areas. When the grey squirrel turns up in their gardens, they like it, so we have to be careful what we say about them. There are some very good public relations out there. But grey squirrels are not as nice to look at as the red ones—and I have seen only one red squirrel in my whole life. The fact is that grey squirrels cause incredible damage to forest trees. There are means to deal with them, as the Forestry Commission does. Equally, as people know when they plant their bulbs, if they are not careful the grey squirrel will dig them up within a few hours. While all this is annoying, we have no plan—I shall repeat this because I do not want any letters—we have no plan to eradicate grey squirrels.
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c640
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, we all want the red squirrel to survive over the grey squirrel. My noble friend is right to say that this has been a serious problem. It is all the fault of the import from America of the grey squirrel some time ago. The red squirrel is now found only in the north of England in 16 separate reserves, and of course on the Isle of Wight. No grey squirrels are on the island and, if any turn up, we will deal with them and they will not come back again. We have a plan to maintain the 16 areas in the north of England and the Isle of Wight as red squirrel reserves with 5-kilometre buffer zones where action is taken against the grey squirrel to protect food supplies and to protect against the other factors that lead to problems for the red squirrel.
My Lords, we all want the red squirrel to survive over the grey squirrel. My noble friend is right to say that this has been a serious problem. It is all the fault of the import from America of the grey squirrel some time ago. The red squirrel is now found only in the north of England in 16 separate reserves, and of course on the Isle of Wight. No grey squirrels are on the island and, if any turn up, we will deal with them and they will not come back again. We have a plan to maintain the 16 areas in the north of England and the Isle of Wight as red squirrel reserves with 5-kilometre buffer zones where action is taken against the grey squirrel to protect food supplies and to protect against the other factors that lead to problems for the red squirrel.
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Clark of Windermere
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, does my noble friend agree that, while there may be some dispute about the effect of grey squirrels on birds, there is no dispute about the effect of grey squirrels on our native red squirrels? Does he accept that the carrying of squirrel pox by the grey squirrel has wiped out most of our red squirrels, which are now found only in the far north of England and one or two isolated pockets? As a matter of urgency, will he ask his officials whether they will commission scientific research to try to discover a vaccine that would allow red squirrels to survive this terrible squirrel pox?
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c639-40
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I have to say that that is a very old-fashioned approach. It did not work, it is not cost-effective or value for money, and as a policy it was abandoned in 1958.
My Lords, I have to say that that is a very old-fashioned approach. It did not work, it is not cost-effective or value for money, and as a policy it was abandoned in 1958.
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Mackie of Benshie
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, there is no question but that the grey squirrel does a lot of harm, and I cannot agree with my Front Bench about contraception. I think that a more practical way of controlling grey squirrels, one which does work, is to pay a substantial sum for every squirrel tail handed in.
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c641
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the last thing that I want to do is to knock the report by Songbird Survival, but the fact is, by implication from my first and second responses, we do not accept all the science in it. We have asked the trust to share any of its unpublished evidence with the scientific community. There is a problem here, but songbird populations are on the up. Since 1995, an increase of 6 per cent has been measured on the index of woodland birds, although the current level is only around 60 per cent of the 1970 figure. Nevertheless, as I say, it is on the up. We believe that the number of songbirds may have dropped to the bottom and is now starting to come up again. This is in part due to changes in farming practices. Over a six-year period in the 1980s and 1990s, farmers were paid to dig up the hedgerows. We lost 25 per cent of the hedgerows in this country, which is bound to have affected birdlife. Today we are paying farmers to put the hedges back again and we can see birdlife populations increase because of different, environmental farming practices.
My Lords, the last thing that I want to do is to knock the report by Songbird Survival, but the fact is, by implication from my first and second responses, we do not accept all the science in it. We have asked the trust to share any of its unpublished evidence with the scientific community. There is a problem here, but songbird populations are on the up. Since 1995, an increase of 6 per cent has been measured on the index of woodland birds, although the current level is only around 60 per cent of the 1970 figure. Nevertheless, as I say, it is on the up. We believe that the number of songbirds may have dropped to the bottom and is now starting to come up again. This is in part due to changes in farming practices. Over a six-year period in the 1980s and 1990s, farmers were paid to dig up the hedgerows. We lost 25 per cent of the hedgerows in this country, which is bound to have affected birdlife. Today we are paying farmers to put the hedges back again and we can see birdlife populations increase because of different, environmental farming practices.
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Asked by
Baroness Byford
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, does the Minister accept the findings of the report to which my noble friend referred in the first Question as good evidence on the research side? The evidence falls into two parts, the first being the problem with regard to farmland and the other being the problem with regard to woodland birds themselves. What research is being done on both accounts?
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c641
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I am not knocking the grey squirrel, because it is very popular with people in urban areas. When the grey squirrel turns up in their gardens, they like it, so we have to be careful what we say about them. There are some very good public relations out there. But grey squirrels are not as nice to look at as the red ones—and I have seen only one red squirrel in my whole life. The fact is that grey squirrels cause incredible damage to forest trees. There are means to deal with them, as the Forestry Commission does. Equally, as people know when they plant their bulbs, if they are not careful the grey squirrel will dig them up within a few hours. While all this is annoying, we have no plan—I shall repeat this because I do not want any letters—we have no plan to eradicate grey squirrels.
My Lords, I am not knocking the grey squirrel, because it is very popular with people in urban areas. When the grey squirrel turns up in their gardens, they like it, so we have to be careful what we say about them. There are some very good public relations out there. But grey squirrels are not as nice to look at as the red ones—and I have seen only one red squirrel in my whole life. The fact is that grey squirrels cause incredible damage to forest trees. There are means to deal with them, as the Forestry Commission does. Equally, as people know when they plant their bulbs, if they are not careful the grey squirrel will dig them up within a few hours. While all this is annoying, we have no plan—I shall repeat this because I do not want any letters—we have no plan to eradicate grey squirrels.
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Asked by
Baroness Sharples
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, does the noble Lord agree that grey squirrels can decimate oak trees? I planted some 300 oaks and virtually half of them have been destroyed. We are allowed to use only a very few of the poisons now available to try to deal with this problem.
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c640
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I asked about this yesterday because I had to have immunocontraceptives explained to me. I asked, ““How do you know whether you are giving them to the boy grey squirrels or the girl grey squirrels?”” I am told that it is a bit of a problem out in the wild. It is true that the Forestry Commission and Defra are collaborating to investigate the potential of such a vaccine, if I can call it that. If everything goes according to plan, it will be 10 years before a usable fertility control method is available for grey squirrels. I have to say that, as it has been for former Defra and MAFF Ministers, every vaccine that is meant to solve a problem is always 10 years away.
My Lords, I asked about this yesterday because I had to have immunocontraceptives explained to me. I asked, ““How do you know whether you are giving them to the boy grey squirrels or the girl grey squirrels?”” I am told that it is a bit of a problem out in the wild. It is true that the Forestry Commission and Defra are collaborating to investigate the potential of such a vaccine, if I can call it that. If everything goes according to plan, it will be 10 years before a usable fertility control method is available for grey squirrels. I have to say that, as it has been for former Defra and MAFF Ministers, every vaccine that is meant to solve a problem is always 10 years away.
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Asked by
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, has Defra consulted the Forestry Commission over a plan to control grey squirrel numbers by using contraception instead of by humane killing? Is contraception still Defra’s preferred method of control?
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c640
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, there is some evidence that squirrels prey on woodland bird nests, but the true extent of any impact on the bird population is unknown. This issue is being looked at by the UK Woodland Bird Group, but it is difficult to design a study that would give a definitive answer.
My Lords, there is some evidence that squirrels prey on woodland bird nests, but the true extent of any impact on the bird population is unknown. This issue is being looked at by the UK Woodland Bird Group, but it is difficult to design a study that would give a definitive answer.
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Rotherwick
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
What is their response to the finding in the report by the Songbird Survival trust that grey squirrels are one of the main predators of songbirds.
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c639
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does my noble friend agree that, while there may be some dispute about the effect of grey squirrels on birds, there is no dispute about the effect of grey squirrels on our native red squirrels? Does he accept that the carrying of squirrel pox by the grey squirrel has wiped out most of our red squirrels, which are now found only in the far north of England and one or two isolated pockets? As a matter of urgency, will he ask his officials whether they will commission scientific research to try to discover a vaccine that would allow red squirrels to survive this terrible squirrel pox?
My Lords, does my noble friend agree that, while there may be some dispute about the effect of grey squirrels on birds, there is no dispute about the effect of grey squirrels on our native red squirrels? Does he accept that the carrying of squirrel pox by the grey squirrel has wiped out most of our red squirrels, which are now found only in the far north of England and one or two isolated pockets? As a matter of urgency, will he ask his officials whether they will commission scientific research to try to discover a vaccine that would allow red squirrels to survive this terrible squirrel pox?
Asked by
Lord Clark of Windermere
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 November 2006
My Lords, we all want the red squirrel to survive over the grey squirrel. My noble friend is right to say that this has been a serious problem. It is all the fault of the import from America of the grey squirrel some time ago. The red squirrel is now found only in the north of England in 16 separate reserves, and of course on the Isle of Wight. No grey squirrels are on the island and, if any turn up, we will deal with them and they will not come back again. We have a plan to maintain the 16 areas in the north of England and the Isle of Wight as red squirrel reserves with 5-kilometre buffer zones where action is taken against the grey squirrel to protect food supplies and to protect against the other factors that lead to problems for the red squirrel.
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c639-40
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, has Defra consulted the Forestry Commission over a plan to control grey squirrel numbers by using contraception instead of by humane killing? Is contraception still Defra’s preferred method of control?
My Lords, has Defra consulted the Forestry Commission over a plan to control grey squirrel numbers by using contraception instead of by humane killing? Is contraception still Defra’s preferred method of control?
Asked by
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 November 2006
My Lords, I asked about this yesterday because I had to have immunocontraceptives explained to me. I asked, ““How do you know whether you are giving them to the boy grey squirrels or the girl grey squirrels?”” I am told that it is a bit of a problem out in the wild. It is true that the Forestry Commission and Defra are collaborating to investigate the potential of such a vaccine, if I can call it that. If everything goes according to plan, it will be 10 years before a usable fertility control method is available for grey squirrels. I have to say that, as it has been for former Defra and MAFF Ministers, every vaccine that is meant to solve a problem is always 10 years away.
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c640
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I am surprised by the Minister’s reply. The papers that I passed to him show that Professor Roy Brown has looked at more than 115 areas for up to 30 years and that, according to his research, mammal predation accounts for between one-third and three-quarters of all songbird predation losses. Therefore, having read Professor Brown’s report, does the Minister agree that it is clear that mammal predation is one of the most important factors in the decline of our songbirds? Would the Government put forward and fund their own research once they have got over the funding shortcomings that they have at present?
My Lords, I am surprised by the Minister’s reply. The papers that I passed to him show that Professor Roy Brown has looked at more than 115 areas for up to 30 years and that, according to his research, mammal predation accounts for between one-third and three-quarters of all songbird predation losses. Therefore, having read Professor Brown’s report, does the Minister agree that it is clear that mammal predation is one of the most important factors in the decline of our songbirds? Would the Government put forward and fund their own research once they have got over the funding shortcomings that they have at present?
Asked by
Lord Rotherwick
(Conservative)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 November 2006
My Lords, it is not all the fault of squirrels; I would think that pesticides have something to do with this issue. We note the report that the Songbird Survival trust has produced and are grateful for its contribution to the debate. We would encourage the trust to share any unpublished evidence and research with the scientific community. Of the 15 species covered in the report by the trust, only three species were identified as being affected by grey squirrel predation: blackbirds, robins and whitethroats. These results are not consistent with the findings of the repeat woodland bird survey of 2005.
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c639
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, it is not all the fault of squirrels; I would think that pesticides have something to do with this issue. We note the report that the Songbird Survival trust has produced and are grateful for its contribution to the debate. We would encourage the trust to share any unpublished evidence and research with the scientific community. Of the 15 species covered in the report by the trust, only three species were identified as being affected by grey squirrel predation: blackbirds, robins and whitethroats. These results are not consistent with the findings of the repeat woodland bird survey of 2005.
My Lords, it is not all the fault of squirrels; I would think that pesticides have something to do with this issue. We note the report that the Songbird Survival trust has produced and are grateful for its contribution to the debate. We would encourage the trust to share any unpublished evidence and research with the scientific community. Of the 15 species covered in the report by the trust, only three species were identified as being affected by grey squirrel predation: blackbirds, robins and whitethroats. These results are not consistent with the findings of the repeat woodland bird survey of 2005.
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Rotherwick
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, I am surprised by the Minister’s reply. The papers that I passed to him show that Professor Roy Brown has looked at more than 115 areas for up to 30 years and that, according to his research, mammal predation accounts for between one-third and three-quarters of all songbird predation losses. Therefore, having read Professor Brown’s report, does the Minister agree that it is clear that mammal predation is one of the most important factors in the decline of our songbirds? Would the Government put forward and fund their own research once they have got over the funding shortcomings that they have at present?
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c639
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
What is their response to the finding in the report by the Songbird Survival trust that grey squirrels are one of the main predators of songbirds.
What is their response to the finding in the report by the Songbird Survival trust that grey squirrels are one of the main predators of songbirds.
Asked by
Lord Rotherwick
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
7 November 2006
Answered on
7 November 2006
My Lords, there is some evidence that squirrels prey on woodland bird nests, but the true extent of any impact on the bird population is unknown. This issue is being looked at by the UK Woodland Bird Group, but it is difficult to design a study that would give a definitive answer.
Subjects
Birds; Nature conservation; Pests; Squirrels
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
686 c639
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
SI 2006/342 . Considered by Standing Committee. (Minutes of Proceedings at UP 7 2005-06).
SI 2006/342 . Considered by Standing Committee. (Minutes of Proceedings at UP 7 2005-06).
Type
Debates on delegated legislation; Delegated Legislation Committee proceedings
Legislation
Bee Diseases and Pest Control (England) Order 2006
Subjects
Disease control; Pest control; Beekeeping; Bees; Pests
Date
11 May 2006
Reference
5TH SC on DL
Chamber / Committee
Standing committees
House
House of Commons
SI 2006/342 (Negative instrument). Together with an explanatory memorandum from Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs. Coming into force 17 March 2006
SI 2006/342 (Negative instrument). Together with an explanatory memorandum from Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs. Coming into force 17 March 2006
Department
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Statutory instruments
Procedure
Negative
Laid on
15 February 2006
Made on
11 February 2006
Coming into force
17 March 2006
Legislation
Bees Act 1980; Bee Diseases and Pests Control (England) Order 2006
Subjects
Disease control; Beekeeping; Bees; Pests; Pest control
Commons Library location
UP 1215 2005-06
Date
15 February 2006
Reference
SI 2006/342
House
House of Commons; House of Lords
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will issue best practice guidelines to local authorities on their duty under S2(1)(a) of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 with reference to (a) the (i) nature and (ii) frequency of inspections required by...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will issue best practice guidelines to local authorities on their duty under S2(1)(a) of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 with reference to (a) the (i) nature and (ii) frequency of inspections required by...
Asked by
Andrew Dismore
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Knight of Weymouth
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
13 June 2005
For answer on
15 June 2005
Answered on
23 June 2005
It is for local authorities to decide on the most appropriate pest control programme in their own area, while having regard to their duties under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949. Therefore Defra has no plans to issue best practice guidelines to local authorities on their duty under S2(1)(a) of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949.
Legislation
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949
Subjects
Inspections; Pest control; Pests
Date
23 June 2005
Reference
435 c1118-9W;435 c1122-3W; 4853
House
House of Commons