§ Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reach a decision on the conservation status of the 22 species of butterfly, recommended for protection by the Nature Conservancy Council in the quinquennial review of schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWe have decided to add the 22 species of British butterfly to schedule 5 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as recommended by the Nature Conservancy Council. This means that these species will be protected under the sale licensing provisions of section 9(5) of the Act. The necessary instrument to bring this amendment into force will be laid before the House shortly.