§ Lord Addingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many staff will be employed by the proposed joint committee for nature conservation for the purposes of advising it of its obligation under the European Community Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds; and to what extent those obligations are being met in England, Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Hesketh)Detailed work on the staffing, structure and organisation of the Country Councils (including the joint committee) is currently being undertaken by the Government and existing agencies in consultation with the chairmen-designate. It is therefore too early to give a definitive figure for the number of staff to be employed on any particular function.
I can, however, assure the noble Lord that the UK fully meets its obligations under the European Community Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds, and will continue to do so following reorganisation of the Nature Conservancy Council.