To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of disturbance of bird nesting sites as a result of the conversion of farm buildings under programmes run by the Rural Development Commission; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that neither the Rural Development Commission nor the Nature Conservancy Council is aware of any evidence of bird nesting sites being disturbed as a result of conversions grant-aided by the commission. However the Department have asked the Commission to bear this possibility in mind for the future.