6. After regulation 110 (advisory role of Natural England, the Countryside Council for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage) insert—
111.—(1) The Scottish Ministers must take such steps to encourage research and scientific work as they consider necessary—
(a)having regard to the objectives in Article 2, and the obligation in Article 11, of the Habitats Directive; and
(b)for the purpose of the protection or management, and in relation to the use, of any population of wild bird.
(2) The Scottish Ministers must supply such information as they consider appropriate to the European Commission and, in the case of information supplied for the purposes of the Habitats Directive, to member States, to further the proper co-ordination of research carried out by member States or by the European Commission for the purposes of the Directives.
(3) In deciding what steps to take under paragraph (1), the Scottish Ministers must have particular regard to the need for research and scientific work—
(a)on the subjects listed in Annex V to the Wild Birds Directive; or
(b)which may be required to implement Articles 4 and 10 of the Habitats Directive.”.