§ The Earl of Kimberleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What they propose to do, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, at the Council of Ministers with reference to French proposals to change the law on shooting migratory birds, such as the Gargany, Teal, Greenshanks, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Curlews and Redshanks, all of which are protected in Great Britain.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Arran)The Commission's proposal has been passed to the European Parliament for an opinion. When the Parliament's views are made known, the Commission will refer the matter back to the Council of Ministers for further consideration.
The proposed amendment to the Birds Directive clarifies the arrangements for protecting migratory birds and avoids unnecessary interference with long established and traditional hunting seasons in some member states. This accords with the principles of subsidiarity. There will be no change to the protection afforded to migratory species in the United Kingdom, nor to the closed seasons for hunting.