Birds (Hansard, 27 October 1997)

§ Angela Eagle

The Government have taken positive steps to help reverse the decline in common hedgerow, woodland and farmland bird species. They includeA biodiversity steering group report, published in December 1995, contained costed action plans for bird species, including the song thrush and skylark, and costed habitat action plans for cereal field margins, lowland wet grassland and other important bird habitats. Further costed action plans for other important bird habitats and song bird species are being prepared. The Government are working with conservation and farming organisations to improve the efficiency and targeting of agri-environmental schemes which encourage environmentally sensitive farming. MAFF has commissioned research into the relationship between farming practices over the last 20 years and populations of farmland birds. MAFF also funds research on establishment and maintenance of hedgerows and has large programmes to support agri-environment schemes and to help promote minimisation of the use of pesticides. A comprehensive literature review, recently published, considered the possible indirect effect of pesticides on farmland birds. Further research is planned in this area. An approval system is in place for new pesticides, and existing pesticides are subject to an EU review programme. Older pesticides are therefore reviewed against modem standards. A pesticide's forum, including agricultural, environmental, food and other groups, has recently published an action plan for the responsible use of pesticides. A group has been set up to recommend ways of strengthening the Hedgerow Regulations 1997, so that they give better protection for hedgerows. The group is working towards making its recommendations by the end of December this year.