SNH will carry out a detailed survey to pinpoint its remaining sites and how they can be managed to conserve the species. It is globally threatened in the wild and in Scotland it is known at only five sites.One of the main causes of its decline is thought to be the loss of farm ponds, where leeches would feed on the livestock which came to drink. Some environmentalists have been advocating their return, to the horror of farmers.The medicinal leech, which sucks the blood of fish, amphibians and birds as well as mammals such as man, is still reared for use in plastic surgery and to produce anti-blood clotting agents. About 80 beavers were released in Sweden between 1922 and 1940 and their population has now reached nearly 100,000.SNH will emphasise that it has no intention of even considering reintroducing the wolf or the bear. ''Our initial impressions are favourable, but there's a long way to go,'' he said.The organisation will be leaning heavily on the experience of other European countries which have brought back the beaver, including France, the Netherlands and Germany.
SNH promises full consultation with landowners and anyone else with an interest or view.Dr Vincent Fleming, the officer in charge of the action programme, stressed that a final decision on whether to reintroduce the species was several years off and would rest with the Government. SNH will ascertain the extent of good habitat - beavers prefer woodlands of willow, aspen and poplar near to deep rivers.It will also assess what impact the return of the beaver will have on farming, forestry and other parts of the economy. The surveying, research and land management measures involved will cost several hundred thousand pounds a year. The beaver became extinct in Britain during the Middle Ages, due to hunters seeking its thick pelt and scent glands. Scotland's nature conservation quango will today announce that it is pursuing plans to bring the beaver and the medicinal leech back to the glens. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will unveil its first Species Action Programme, setting out measures to boost the numbers and prospects for 17 endangered plant and animal species.
This is the biggest single increase in Family Credit ever, providing "a greater incentive to take up full-time work," said Roger Evans, the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Security. Before the increase, a parent working 30 to 40 hours a week would receive little extra total income than someone working 16 hours because of the way the benefit is withdrawn and tax paid as income rises.The extra cash will not count against housing and council tax benefit claims.. More than a third of a millionhouseholds will gain an extra pounds 10 a week if they work at least 30 hours a week under changes to Family Credit and Disability Working Allowance which take effect today, writes Nicholas Timmins. Guaranteed access to highlights - along the lines of the football deal with BSkyB which allows the BBC to screen Match of the Day - is therefore crucial.Eight major sporting events are not allowed to be shown exclusively on pay-per-view channels, of which there are none in Britain. The National Heritage Select Committee recommended last year that the list be applied to subscription channels, such as Sky Sports, a proposal rejected by the Government last December.Chris Smith, Labour's national heritage spokesman, said that his party would adopt the select committee's recommendation. He said an arrangement for BBC, ITV or Channel 4 to have access to other sporting events would be desirable, if a workable mechanism could be agreed with rights holders.. It has exclusive rights to Wimbledon until the next century, but has otherwise settled for shared coverage of cricket, as well as rugby union.However, senior BBC management fears that it may soon be denied even shared coverage, as prices continue to rise and BSkyB's audience reach increases from 4 million homes to 41 per cent of all television homes by the turn of the century.