asked the Secretary of State for Defence, following the Nugent committee's recommendation about Tain Ross and Cromarty, NG ref. 8384, how successful the management arrangements between the Ministry of Defence and the Nature Conservancy have been.

Since 1974 the Ministry of Defence has maintained close contact with the Nature Conservancy and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to ensure that all aspects of conservation and in particular the important ornithological interest are taken into account in the management of Tain range. I am satisfied that this informal arrangement is working most successfully.