HC Deb 08 May 1989 vol 152 c348W
Mr. Bellingham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been commissioned into the likely effect of a rise in sea levels on wild birds which depend on Britain's estuaries and soft coasts; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Government Departments are currently spending nearly £13 million on research into climate change. Whilst some of this is related to the effects of a resulting rise in sea levels, none is directed specifically at the effects on birds habitats.

The Department has commissioned research to predict the effects of reductions in shore width caused by land claim on estuarine wading bird numbers. A report on this research will be available shortly. We intend to utilise and extend these studies to examine the impacts of reductions in shore width from the seaward side, resulting from sea levels rise.