Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

My Lords, it is important to have some guidance from the Government on the point at which a nest becomes an ““ex-nest””, as it were. The briefing we received, as the noble Earl, Lord Peel, pointed out, says that:"““The amendment seeks to address the issue of the length of time a nest can be unoccupied and still remain a nest””." The briefing goes on:"““There is no clear point at which the distinction between a nest and an ex-nest can readily be made””." When I read this, I was irresistibly reminded of the ““dead parrot”” sketch in ““Monty Python””. One can hear the occupier saying, ““This nest is dead, it is kaput, it is finished, it is no longer with us””. The inspector would turn around and say, ““The nest is not dead; it is just unused and might be resurrected””. It is extremely important, if the ““five years”” is correct, that the Minister spells out exactly when a nest becomes an ex-nest.