§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect he expects the proposed amendment to article 7 of directive 79/409/EEC to have on the protection of migratory birds in mainland Europe, particularly France.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe proposed amendment clarifies the arrangements for protecting migratory birds and avoids unnecessary interference with traditional hunting seasons 111W in some member states. In France, the amendment would not mean that migratory birds were more at risk than in earlier years. The dates for the close of the hunting seasons would, in future, be fixed in accordance with the criteria specified in the proposed amendment to the directive.