Otters

Mr. Hooson
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he is in a position to give more information about the incidence of otters in England at the present time; and what their relative decline has been;(2) whether he is in a position to give more information about the incidence of otters in Wales at the present time; and what their relative decline has been.

Mr. Denis Howell
As I told the hon. and learned Member in my reply to him on 28th February, a joint working group of the Nature Conservancy Council and the Society for the Promotion of Nature Conservation is assessing the status of the otter in Great Britain. I understand that the group has now virtually com-  pleted its work and intends to publish its report at the end of next month.