03 June 1997
Lord Lucas asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether and why they welcome or deplore the successful if unintended reintroduction of wild boar to large areas of Kent and East Sussex.
Baroness Hayman: The indiscriminate release of animals not ordinarily resident in Great Britain in a wild state and of uncertain genetic origin is not welcome. Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 prohibits such releases. The impacts of an unmanaged wild boar population are uncertain but may result in damage to features of nature conservation interest. While there have been sporadic sightings of wild boar in the wild, many of these have not been substantiated, and there is no confirmed evidence of established breeding populations in the wild.
23 Jun 1997
Lord Robertson of Oakridge asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their policy on the increase in the number of wild boar, in particular in relation to their potential as carriers of swine fever, and their unpredictable nature and the consequent risk to the public.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions(Baroness Hayman): Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 prohibits the release of animals not ordinarily resident in Great Britain in a wild state. The wild boar qualifies as such an animal. There have been alleged sporadic sightings of wild boar in the wild, but not all have been substantiated, and there is no confirmed evidence of established breeding populations in the wild. Feral boar do not at present pose a notifiable disease threat because Great Britain is free of Classical Swine Fever. In response to reports of the presence of feral wild boar, the Government have engaged in a risk assessment exercise.
17 Jun 1997
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the establishment of a feral population of wild boar in the south-west of England; and what plans he has to tighten the licensing procedures for the farming of wild boar. Angela Eagle: Whilst there have been anecdotal reports of wild boar in Dorset and Hampshire, I am unaware of any substantiated evidence of a population having become established. The keeping of wild boar is covered under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 which requires any person keeping a wild boar to obtain a licence from the local authority. I have no plans to change the licensing procedures under the Act.
18 Feb 1998
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the change in the numbers of wild boar in England.
Mr. Clappison: There are no figures available on the numerical trends in wild boar in England. Licences to keep wild boar are issued by local authorities, who maintain central records. While there have been sporadic sightings of wild boar in the wild, many of these have not been substantiated and there is no confirmed evidence of the animal breeding in the wild.
11 Jun 1998
Mrs. Gilroy: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the plans for shooting enthusiasts to kill wild boar on private land near Tiverton, Devon; and what representations he has received on this matter.
Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
The Government have not been consulted about this proposal. The responsibility for licensing the keeping of wild animals, including wild boars, rests with local authorities. The control of the keeping of firearms is a matter for the police in this context. It is not an offence to kill a wild boar humanely. However, under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, it would be an offence to inflict unnecessary suffering on a boar. My Department has received an inquiry from the League Against Cruel Sports on this matter.
3 Nov 1998
Mr. Letwin To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to eliminate feral populations of wild boar in West Dorset
Mr. Meale. Whilst we are keeping the situation under review, the small number of animals estimated to be at present to be in Dorset are not believed to pose any immediate threat to health, safety or native biodiversity. Therefore, there are no plans to eradicate the animals.
12 Nov 1998
Mr. Colvin. To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if wild boar in captivity are subject to the same production, health and veterinary controls as domestic pigs.
Mr Morley. Wild boar may be kept in captivity only under licence, issued by the relevant local authority under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 or under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, as appropriate. Captive wild boar are subject to the same health and veterinary controls as domestic pigs.
16 Nov 1998
Lord Robertson of Oakridge asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the risk assessment exercise on wild boar referred to in the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 23 June 1997 (WA 151) has been completed; and, if so, what were its findings.
Lord Donoughue: The risk assessment on wild boar referred to was published on 21 October 1998 and I have placed a copy of both the report and the news release in the Library of the House.
17 June 1999
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to permit the shooting of wild boar in self-defence.
Ms Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply. Current legislation does not prohibit anyone that legally owns a firearm from shooting a wild boar.
17 June 1999
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the establishment of a feral population of wild boar in the south-west of England; and what plans he has to tighten the licensing procedures for the farming of wild boar.
Ms Angela Eagle: Whilst there have been anecdotal reports of wild boar in Dorset and Hampshire, I am unaware of any substantiated evidence of a population having become established.
The keeping of wild boar is covered under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 which requires any person keeping a wild boar to obtain a licence from the local authority. I have no plans to change the licensing procedures under the Act.
30 June 1999
Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce measures to protect the health status of the pig herd from the potential threat of colonies of free-living wild boar.
Mr. Rooker: We are considering options for an animal health risk assessment of wild boar. This will examine the potential for disease transmission or other interactions between wild boar and livestock and will help us consider whether action needs to be taken to limit or eradicate the population of wild boar.
7 July 1999
Mr. Green: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to encourage individual identifications of wild boar on farms; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Rooker: There are no plans to require that wild boar be individually identified on farms. Producers are free to do so if they want.
8 July 1999
Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to designate wild boar as (a) vermin and (b) game; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Meale: There are no plans to designate wild boar as vermin or game. Wild boar are not protected and may be killed or taken by owners and occupiers of land using any method, e.g. shooting or trapping, which is not prohibited by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
8 July 1999
Mr. Green: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of boar living in the wild in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Meale: I have been asked to reply. There are estimated to be around 100 wild boar living free on the borders of Kent and East Sussex, with between 12-20 in Dorset.