To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the merits of strengthening controls on the sale of those non-CITES species of birds removed from Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. (252762)

All non-CITES species of birds removed from Schedule 4 are subject to the sales controls provided in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The removal of certain species from Schedule 4 has not affected the fact that it will remain an offence to possess or sell a wild bird that has been illegally taken.