Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1300143

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Hedgehogs: Conservation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect the UK's hedgehog population.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	164645
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>The Environment Bill contains measures that will help improve the status of threatened species, including by setting at least one biodiversity target in law, as well as strengthening the biodiversity duty on public authorities to take action to conserve and enhance biodiversity.</p><p>We are also taking action, through our net gain provisions in the Bill, to support the role of new development in helping protect and create the habitat that our native species, including hedgehogs, need to thrive.</p><p>We are working with stakeholders and end users to determine the specific actions that will be paid for under our new schemes that reward environmental land management. We will set out more details on this later this year. The Agricultural Transition Plan set out examples of the types of actions that we envisage paying for under the schemes, including creating, managing and restoring habitats such as woodland, heathland and species-rich grassland, which could all benefit species such as hedgehog.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 16/03/2021 13:02:35 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1300091

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Hedgehogs: Conservation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of hedgehog numbers in the UK; and if he will take steps to move hedgehogs to schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to strengthen their protections.
	tabling member constituency	Ynys Môn
	tabling member printed	Virginia Crosbie
	uin	164682
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2021 answer text <p>The latest ‘Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals’ estimates the hedgehog populations in the UK is 522,000.</p><p> </p><p>Wildlife policy is a devolved issue and this response is with regard to England only.</p><p>The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 sets out a legal duty for the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to undertake a review of Schedule 5 and 8 (protected species) every five years to determine whether any further species warrant inclusion, and for the Secretary of State to lay this advice before Parliament. This review process is science led and evidence based, with criteria for consideration of species agreed across the jurisdictions of the UK. The JNCC is currently reviewing schedule 5 and will make recommendations for any additions at the end of this year.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 11/03/2021 14:38:25 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4859 label Biography information for Virginia Crosbie

1015056

	registered interest
	date	26/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Hedgehogs: Conservation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish an action plan on hedgehog conservation.
	tabling member constituency	Chipping Barnet
	tabling member printed	Theresa Villiers
	uin	195535
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government has published advice on how to help hedgehogs through the creation of hedgehog havens and making gardens as welcoming as possible. This can be accessed at: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/news/five-simple-steps-to-transform-gardens-in-to-hedgehog-havens" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/news/five-simple-steps-to-transform-gardens-in-to-hedgehog-havens</a></p><p> </p><p>We support the excellent work being undertaken by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, such as the Hedgehog Street campaign and their Conservation Strategy for Hedgehogs which sets out a ten year approach to supporting this species. Natural England is taking action to address some of the objectives in this strategy.</p><p> </p><p>As set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan, we are committed to creating or restoring 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat to provide benefits for species such as the hedgehog. Agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship provide funding to restore, extend and link important habitats and boost food resources for a range of species including hedgehogs.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 29/11/2018 17:45:04 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers

1015057

	registered interest
	date	26/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Hedgehogs: Conservation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will (a) publish a response to EDM 1297 on banning A24 traps that kill hedgehogs and (b) make an assessment of the potential merits of withdrawing the licence for A24 rat traps that kill hedgehogs.
	tabling member constituency	Chipping Barnet
	tabling member printed	Theresa Villiers
	uin	195536
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2018 answer text <p>I have previously responded to the issue raised in EDM 1297 in PQ 138359 17/19 and also directly with various members of Parliament via ministerial correspondence.</p><p> </p><p>The trap is not approved for trapping hedgehogs. We are confident that hedgehogs can be effectively and safely excluded from the Goodnature A24 trap when it is set according to manufacturer’s instructions and an excluder tunnel is (as required by law) used. We are also not aware of any evidence which suggests the A24 trap and excluder tunnels used with it have had any significant impact on hedgehog numbers since its approval.</p><p> </p><p>The use of traps is an important tool in wildlife management, which benefits conservation and a range of economic activities from shooting and agriculture to forestry and eco-tourism. Approving new, more humane and selective trap designs benefits wildlife by improving the welfare of trapped animals and the safety of non-target species.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 29/11/2018 17:47:15 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers

852476

	registered interest
	date	28/02/2018
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Hedgehogs: Conservation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to prevent further decline in hedgehog numbers, particularly in rural areas.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL5959
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2018 answer text <p>The Government is taking action to support the hedgehog.</p><p> </p><p>Our 25 Year Environment Plan is committed to creating or restoring 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat outside the protected site network, focusing on priority habitats as part of a wider set of land management changes providing extensive benefits for species such as the hedgehog.</p><p> </p><p>Agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship provide funding to restore, extend and link important habitats and boost food resources for a range of species including hedgehogs. Over 100,000 hectares of new priority habitat have been created since 2011. The scheme’s Wild Pollinators and Farm Wildlife Package funds specific management focused on improving farmland biodiversity across most farming systems. The management options for grassland, the conservation and enhancement of hedgerows and the creation and maintenance of field margins will help to provide suitable habitat for a range of species including hedgehogs.</p><p> </p><p>In addition we recognise and support the work being undertaken by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, such as the Hedgehog Street campaign and the 10 year hedgehog strategy. Natural England is taking action that seeks to address some of the objectives of the 10 year strategy through actions identified in the work of the Species Taxon Action Groups, which underpins Biodiversity 2020.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 12/03/2018 11:52:25 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1134439

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Hedgehogs: Conservation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment there has been of the risk that A24 traps pose to hedgehog populations.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	269077
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2019 answer text <p>The A24 trap is not approved for trapping hedgehogs. We are confident that hedgehogs can be effectively and safely excluded from the Goodnature A24 trap when it is set according to manufacturer’s instructions and, as is required by law, an excluder tunnel is used. We are also not aware of any evidence which suggests the A24 trap or the excluder tunnel has any impact on hedgehogs.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 03/07/2019 12:00:55 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

838391

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2018
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Hedgehogs: Conservation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Enviornment, Food and Rural Affairs, what meetings his Department has held with the (a) British Hedgehog Preservation Society and (b) People’s Trust for Endangered Species in the last two years on tackling the decline in hedgehog numbers.
	tabling member constituency	Preston
	tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
	uin	127239
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2018 answer text <p>Defra Ministers met the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species in February 2016 to discuss tackling the decline in hedgehog numbers.</p><p> </p><p>Natural England holds regular meetings with the People’s Trust for Endangered Species covering a number of species to progress actions identified to support hedgehogs.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 20/02/2018 11:24:21 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

882169

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2018
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Hedgehogs: Conservation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to (a) designate hedgehogs as a protected species and (b) ensure that planning guidance takes into account the need to preserve hedgehog habitats.
	tabling member constituency	Preston
	tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
	uin	135283
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2018 answer text <p>Hedgehogs are listed under Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 so are protected from being killed using prohibited methods such as crossbows, traps and snares. We are committed, through the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, to creating or restoring 500,000 hectares of wildlife rich habitat for the benefit of species such as the hedgehog.</p><p> </p><p>To designate hedgehogs as a protected species would require them to be listed under Schedule 5 of the Act. There are no plans to do so as protection of the hedgehogs’ habitat from destruction or disturbance, as defined in the Act, could mean that aspects of garden and land maintenance, or use, would constitute a criminal offence and this may have the unintended consequence of discouraging the creation of hedgehog habitat.</p><p> </p><p>The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the Government’s policy on planning, and states that the planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by minimising impacts on biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks. The accompanying planning practice guidance (<a href="http://www.gov.uk/guidance/natural-environment" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/guidance/natural-environment</a>) provides further advice on how this should be achieved by local planning authorities. The Government is currently consulting on amendments to the National Planning Policy Framework.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 20/04/2018 10:05:36 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

882176

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2018
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Hedgehogs: Conservation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2018 to Question 134095 on Department for Transport: Hedgehogs, what steps he is taking as species champion for the native hedgehog to make hedgehogs a protected species.
	tabling member constituency	Preston
	tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
	uin	135290
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2018 answer text <p>Hedgehogs are listed under Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 so are protected from being killed using prohibited methods such as a crossbows, traps and snares. The Government is committed, through the 25 Year Environment Plan, to creating or restoring 500,000 hectares of wildlife rich habitat for the benefit of species such as the hedgehog.</p><p> </p><p>To designate hedgehogs as a protected species would require them to be listed under Schedule 5 of the Act. There are no plans to do so as protection of the hedgehogs’ habitat from destruction or disturbance, as defined in the Act, could mean that aspects of garden and land maintenance would constitute a criminal offence, and this may have the unintended consequence of discouraging the creation of hedgehog habitat.</p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> </em></p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 20/04/2018 16:45:11 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

1672188

	registered interest
	date	22/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Hedgehogs: Conservation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to amend the list of animals which are protected in Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to include hedgehogs.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	3085
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2023 answer text <p>Where there is evidence to show that it is necessary and effective to do so, the Government may consider providing protection through legislation to regulate activities impacting on our native species. In doing so it is important to consider whether the legislation will deliver the intended effects or whether there are more appropriate routes to delivering the same outcomes.</p><p> </p><p>With regard to hedgehogs, while we are concerned about their conservation status, there is no clear evidence to indicate additional protection by adding them to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 will be effective in supporting recovery of the species. It does not regulate the activities linked to its decline which, rather than intentional or reckless killing, are primarily caused by habitat loss and fragmentation due to removal of field margins, hedgerows and scrub; the use of herbicides and insecticide; and road traffic.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 29/11/2023 16:33:25 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes