To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the number of licences issued in each of England, Scotland and Wales to possess birds of prey; and what were the numbers of birds of each species currently held under such licence.

Since the beginning of 1989, the Department has issued 11 licences to possess birds of prey which were either found abandoned or which had been seized by enforcement authorities after being taken illegally from the wild.Only one bird, a golden eagle, is currently held under such a licence.