§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many species of migratory bird will be protected by the recent EC directive on the shooting of birds; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many species of non-migratory bird will be protected by the recent EC directive on the shooting of birds.
§ Mr. TrippierThe EC birds directive, which took effect in 1979, requires member states to legislate for the protection of all birds occurring naturally within their territories but enables member states to derogate from its provision for certain purposes. In order for the United Kindom to meet its obligations under the directive the Government are proposing to remove all species from part II of schedule 2 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and to authorise further control of these species by general licences granted under section 16 of the Act. Two of the 13 species concerned migrate regularly on a significant scale.