Meetings

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and, given the Minister's confirmation that the Welsh Government is in the process of reviewing the shooting of White-fronted geese in Wales, agreed to close the petition.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister for Natural Resources to:

·         welcome his response;

·         ask that he informs the Committee of further details of the proposed consultation so that the petitioners can contribute to it; and

·         seek assurances that the consultation will be a public consultation to ensure that all those who have an interest are given the opportunity to contribute.

William Powell declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He gave procedural advice to associates of the petitioner during a visit to the Dyfi Centre.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister asking him what action Welsh Government will take should the numbers of Greenland White-fronted Geese drop below the level that should trigger action under the African-European Water Bird Agreement, referred to by the petitioners.  

Joyce Watson declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

She is involved with a number of groups who are in support of the petition.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:

• await comments from the petitioners; and
• close the petition if none are forthcoming in the next 6 weeks.

Joyce Watson put on record that she is a member of the RSPB.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:

·         Pass on Professor Fox’s letter on to the Minister for Natural Resources and seek his views on its content and on why the Welsh Government appears to have set its face against statutory protection when other states have done so; and

·         Ask him to reconsider the Welsh Government’s position on this matter.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to ask Professor Fox, via the petitioner, if he is able to supply evidence of shootings since 2009, as requested by Welsh Government officials.

The Committee considered correspondence the petition and agreed

to seek further comments from the petitioner.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek the Minister for Natural Resources’ views on the petitioner’s comments.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek the Minister and Petitioner’s views in the light of the information provided by the Welsh Ornithological Society.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Natural Resources and Food seeking his views on the petition.