Ruddy Ducks

EDM number 90 in 1996-97, proposed by Tony Banks on 29/10/1996.

That this House notes with alarm that, according to the report of the Department of the Environment published in July, in the trial local cull of ruddy ducks on Anglesey most of the birds shot with shotguns did not die instantly, that 11 per cent. of the birds were wounded and not retrieved, that two birds were shot twice and two three times, and one bird was shot 13 times before being recovered still alive; is concerned that of the birds shot with rifles four birds were not killed instantly, two of which took 94 minutes and 119 minutes to die respectively; further notes that English Nature reports that permission to cull ruddy ducks in the West Midlands area would only be granted by 40 to 60 per cent. of the owners of ruddy ducks breeding sites; is aware of the suffering which will be caused in a regional or national cull; and, in view of the fact that 40 to 60 per cent. of ruddy ducks will be left to continue to breed, urges the Secretary of State to save ú200,000 of tax-payers' money and call off the regional trial cull scheduled for Spring 1997.

This motion has been signed by a total of 36 MPs.