asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the report by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds entitled "Hill Farming and Birds", a copy of which has been sent to him.

I have been asked to reply.We expressed our thanks to the RSPB for this report when it was published last summer at a time when policies for the hills and uplands were under review both nationally and in the Community. The Community discussions have now led to agreement on new farm structures measures which include a new approach for environmentally sensitive areas for which we pressed strongly. We shall be taking careful account of the RSPB recommendations in implementing the new measures.