To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the implementation of the Invasive Alien Species Order 2019 on the numbers of (a) grey squirrels and (b) muntjac deer.
Answered on
31 January 2019
No direct assessment has been carried out. The Government takes biosecurity extremely seriously and aims to reduce the impacts of invasive non-native species on our natural environment, the economy and human health. As part of this, the Government works closely with the UK Squirrel Accord and forestry interests to implement the grey squirrel action plan for England and provides funding to the Animal and Plant Health Agency to explore the potential for developing a fertility control method for grey squirrels. We have made a commitment that our exit from the EU will not to erode protections for the environment.
We therefore intend to uphold our commitment to the implementation of the EU Invasive Alien Species Regulation 2014 which requires us to manage the populations of widespread species such as grey squirrel and muntjac deer.