DECLINE IN HOUSE SPARROWS

Early day motion 735, tabled 16 May 2000 by Paul Marsden (Labour). Signed by 51 members.

That this House supports The Independent newspaper's campaign to establish convincing scientific evidence for the alarming decline in the number of house sparrows in Britain, particularly in urban and city centres; notes that the RSPB estimates that there has been a fall on average in the last 30 years of 65 per cent.; pays tribute to this hardy bird that has been known to survive 14,000 feet up in the Himalayas and nearly 2,000 feet down in a Yorkshire coal mine; and urges the Government to support research into why the decline has happened and how it can be reversed.

Signatures by party: Labour 36, Liberal Democrat 11, Conservative 2, Labour/Co-operative 2.