§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What information they have about the "appropriate measures" being considered by the European Commission with a view to removing cormorants from Annex I (Protected) to the Birds Directive; and
What representations they are making to the European Commission to have cormorants removed from Annex I (Protected) to the Birds Directive.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)No proposal to remove the cormorant sub-speciesPhalacrocorax carbo sinensis from Annex I to the EC Wild Birds Directive has been received from the Commission.
The species of cormorant on Annex I to the Wild Birds Directive, Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis, is not prevalent in the United Kingdom. The Government have, therefore, made no representations to the Commission concerning the removal of this species from Annex I of the Wild Birds Directive.