Written question asked by David Chaytor (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 March 2005. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 24 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to extend the protected bird species listed in Schedule 4 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to extend the protected bird species listed in Schedule 4 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and if she will make a statement. [221457] Mr. Morley: [holding answer 23 March 2005]: In 2002 Defra carried out a full public consultation on the bird registration scheme with the key results that the scheme be retained with some minor changes to the administration process and that a study be commissioned by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) firstly to agree scientific criteria for including species on Schedule 4 and then to apply those criteria to candidate species. The study has now been completed and the recommendations in their report are likely to form the basis for a full public consultation where interested parties will be invited to comment on the proposals and to submit further evidence for consideration.

Secondary information