§ 17. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions have taken place between his officials and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds about the new heather and grass burning regulations.
§ Mrs. FennerIn reviewing the 1949 heather and grass burning regulations for England and Wales my officials sought and received comments from more than 30 individuals and organisations, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. My right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales took all views and opinions carefully into account when deciding the form of the new regulations.
§ Mr. BennettWill the Minister confirm that the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, gave special protection to various categories of birds, but that the Government seem to be undermining all the good that they did there by allowing the burning of grass and moorland at times when some protected birds could well be at risk and nests, eggs and fledglings could be destroyed? Would it not be far better to discuss with the RSPB specific ways in which such birds can generally be protected, and not destroyed by burning, under these regulations?
§ Mrs. FennerAs I understand it, the RSPB was not against the extension of the period. It had other views in response to the consultation paper, which we carefully took into consideration.
§ Sir Hector MonroI accept the necessity for the new regulations on muirburn, but will my hon. Friend assure me that there will in future be consultations with the Nature Conservancy Council, the Government's advisers on wild life?
§ Mrs. FennerThere were consultations with the Nature Conservancy Council. I reiterate to my hon. Friend that we consulted more than 30 organisations and he will know that it is difficult, with such disparate views, to satisfy everybody. However, I assure him that all the views that were put forward were carefully taken into consideration.
§ Mr. HardyWill the Minister reconsider her answer over the next few days? Is she aware that the RSPB was not consulted by her Department, despite being perhaps the major conservation body in the matter? Will the hon. Lady accept that the RSPB found out about the matter just before the period for consultation closed and that those consultations should have been taken rather more seriously?
§ Mrs. FennerI assure the hon. Gentleman that that is not so. It is true that, because of a regrettable oversight, the RSPB was not on the original circulation list for the consultation letter, and I regret that, but that was quickly noticed and corrected and the deadline date for receiving comments was extended to ensure that the RSPB had sufficient time to reply.