Let us save our Swifts! Former Cabinet minister's surprise change of heart on nestbrick legislation

                                           

Baroness Coffey - speaking up for Swifts

DURING this autumn's series of parliamentary debates on Swifts, one of the most unexpected contributors has been Baroness Thérèse Coffey.

When she was Environment Secretary in the last Conservative government, Baroness Coffey appeared to show less than passionate support for the welfare of Britain's birds, even claiming that the droppings of waders and wildfowl might contribute to  pollution in estuaries.

There was also an alleged snub for  Swift brick campaigner Hannah Bourne-Taylor who had hoped she might be sympathetic.

But out of government and now sitting in the House of Lords, the baroness, who was 54 yesterday, appears to have shifted her position 180 degrees.

She told fellow peers: "When I was at the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, there was always a row with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government  about Swift bricks.

"MHCLG regularly complained - obfuscated, frankly - about how an extra £20 to £30 would absolutely wipe out the housebuilding industry. 

"Honestly, that is complete nonsense. 

"Steve Reed supported Swift bricks when he was the Environment Secretary; now that he is the Housing Secretary, I hope he can persuade the Treasury that it is okay to have Swift bricks as standard.

"I am sure that there are many other measures that people would like. This is simple and straightforward; let us save our Swifts."

Baroness Coffey then proposed that the following clause should be added to Building Regulations: 

The Secretary of State must introduce regulations under section 1 of the Building Act 1984 (power to make building regulations) to make provision for the installation of an average of one Swift brick per dwelling or unit greater than 5 metres in height.(2) Regulations must require the installation of Swift bricks in line with best practice guidance, except where such installation is not practicable or appropriate. (3) For the purposes of this section, 'Swift brick' means an integral nest box integrated into the wall of a building suitable for the nesting of the common Swift and other cavity nesting species.

Alas for the baroness - and for Swifts - her proposal was defeated by 102 votes to 36.                                             

Looking for flying insects and somewhere to nest - Swifts in the summer sky