§ Dr. Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the text of the reasoned opinion delivered by the European Commission concerning the alleged failure of the United Kingdom to incorporate correctly the Council directive of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (79/409) as notified in the Bulletin of the European Communities No. 10 1984 page 89; and if he will publish his response to this reasoned opinion.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinOn 23 February 1984 the European Commission questioned British compliance with the provisions of the directive. It raised three points. The Government were able to satisfy them on two of these. The third related to Northern Ireland. Orders in Council to 421W implement the directive in Northern Ireland were laid before Parliament on 22 November 1984, and approved by the House of Commons on 16 January 1985, the House of Lords on 17 February 1985, and the Privy Council on 14 February 1985. They will become effective on 14 April 1985.
I have placed in the Library a copy of the reasoned opinion forwarded to Her Majesty's Government on 16 October 1984.