Protection of Bats and Newts

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Foreign and Commonwealth Office – in the House of Commons at 3:35 pm on 24 June 2008.

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Photo of Andrew Robathan Andrew Robathan Opposition Deputy Chief Whip (Commons) 3:35, 24 June 2008

Indeed.

My Bill would ensure that Ministers insisted on the reform of the European habitats directive and set up a more pragmatic, balanced approach, conserving our natural heritage of great crested newts and bats without the adverse consequences that I have illustrated.

Hon. Members may know act IV, scene i of "Macbeth":

"Fillet of a fenny snake

In the cauldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt, and toe of frog,

Wool of bat, and tongue of dog".

The issue is not about putting bats and newts in cauldrons, but there is toil and trouble. Let us have some common sense instead.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Andrew Robathan, Sir Patrick Cormack, Christopher Fraser, Mr. Tim Boswell and Robert Key.

Annotations

Tim Ambler
Posted on 1 Jul 2008 3:05 pm (Report this annotation)

Mr Robathan

An excellent speech. Thank you. As you rightly said, bats have become a nightmare here in Norfolk due to the absurd requirements of the Government quangos covering these matters.

Are you right to focus exclusively on Ministers amending an EU Directive? The 2000 Habitats Directive amended the 1992 one so another may be due but their room for manouevre is limited. The Directive is quite loosley drafted leaving issues to national governments.

Surely we should sort out our own roost first?

Tim Ambler