Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2006, Official Report, column 942, on avian influenza, what steps the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State has taken to hold discussions with the Association of Local Government Ecologists. [68066]

Mr. Bradshaw: At the request of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DEFRA officials held discussions with Mr. Steve Moon, Chair of the Association of Local Government Ecologists. An offer was extended to Mr. Moon, or another representative of the association, to participate in the DEFRA avian influenza stakeholder group. This offer was declined.