Harsh words from Viscount Brookborough

The call followed a question from Lord Inglewood on the government's action plan to protect red squirrels, whose numbers have declined as grey squirrels have spread.

Viscount Brookborough: no sympathy for the greys

"We must revert to a policy of shooting on sight," said Viscount Brookborough. "I accept that we would not wipe them out, but where we are we have found that the best way of control."

Speaking for the government, Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton assured her noble friend that the government was "fully committed to the conservation of the red squirrel". But she was keen to point out that the "quick-fix" solution outlined by Lord Inglewood was not the answer.

"I cannot agree with the policy that is the indiscriminate shooting of any wild animal, and I speak for myself as well as the government on this," said the Baroness.

"I am very concious that the many parents with children who get enormous pleasure taking their children to feed grey squirels would write to me in their thousands were I to agree with the noble lord."

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Baroness Farrington outlined sterilisation plans

Baroness Farrington outlined government plans for a sterilisation program for the grey bushy-tailed menaces in order to keep their numbers at bay.

"What we are doing is working, and hoping, through sponsoring via the Forestry Commission, a project at Sheffield University, that within three years of testing we may have developed a successful sterilisation project."

She stressed red squirrels were a "priority species" for biodiversity action plans and reassured the House that the government would continue to strive for the red squirrel's long-term survival.

In response to a question about red squirrels' predators, Baroness Farrington replied: "I am not aware of any beasts that prey on red squirrels although it does occur to me that there are those with two legs or guns who would wish to do so."

Squirrel pie

Countess of Mar on the potential popularity of squirrel pie

The Countess of Mar threw a culinary issue into the debate. Her concern was over a long-lost wartime delicacy - squirrel pie. Could promoting the dish assist in the quest to deplete numbers of the grey menaces?

Amid laughter in the Lords, the Baroness replied: "I personally can see that squirrel pie along with hedgehogs baked in earth are delicacies enjoyed by some people and I am quite sure that if a cookery book writer were to find a range of these recipies they would get invaluable assistance from the Countess of Mar."