Birds (Hansard, 16 October 1995)

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he will take to stop the decline in population of(a) song thrushes, (b) bullfinches, (c) lapwings, (d) reed buntings, (e) grey partridges, (f) tree sparrows and (g) turtle doves; and if he will make a statement. [36904]
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§ Mr. Clappison
A number of steps are being taken by my Department, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to help in the recovery of these species. These include:

Habitats beneficial to these species are included in the sites of special scientific interest and special protection areas classified under the EC birds directive.

Agri-environment schemes developed under EC regulations, stewardship and woodland grant schemes encourage farming practices which help conserve habitat important to farmland birds;

Targets for the conservation of habitats to be developed under the UK biodiversity action plan;

Funding research and development projects on the effect of farming techniques on farmland bird populations;

Sponsorship of Royal Society for the Protection of Birds projects to provide practical information on farmland birds for farmers, their advisors and others.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he can take to increase the number of breeding pairs of(a) corncrake and (b) stone curlew on the British Isles. [36942]

§ Mr. Clappison
Since 1991, the Government have been involved in schemes in Scotland to provide financial incentives to landowners and farmers to introduce farming methods which are more conducive to breeding corncrakes. The Government are also working with landowners to protect nesting stone curlews on arable land in Wessex and East Anglia.
The biodiversity steering group is expected to advise the Government on action plans for the corncrake and stone curlew to improve their conservation status. The steering group will report later this year.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial support he will make available to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds towards its song thrush research project. [36941]

§ Mr. Clappison
Although we are not planning to give financial support to this project, my Department is currently negotiating with contractors on research to assess whether the use of herbicides and insecticides on agricultural land be contributing to the decline in the number of certain UK species, including song thrushes, and to provide information about the impact of pesticides on bird populations.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also funds research related to farmland birds.