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1665433

registered interest
date	17/10/2023
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	Game: Birds
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Written Statement of 5 June 2023 on General licensing, UIN HCWS820, how many applications to release gamebirds (a) on and (b) within) 500 metres of Special Protection Areas has her Department (i) received, (ii) approved and (iii) sought advice from Natural England.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	202935
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>Please find below a breakdown of applications received by Defra to release gamebirds within a Special Protection Area or within 500 metres of such an area:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Applications received</p></td><td><p>130</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Applications approved</p></td><td><p>106</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Applications where advice from Natural England considered</p></td><td><p>130</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 23/10/2023 13:17:12 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1652527

registered interest
date	12/07/2023
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	Game: Birds
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which organisations Ministers in her Department met between 1 May 2022 and 31 May 2023 to discuss General Licence 43 for releasing gamebirds in protected areas.
tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
uin	193813
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>The Department has held frequent meetings with stakeholders, including those interested in the release of gamebirds.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 25/07/2023 08:09:06 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford

1652528

registered interest
date	12/07/2023
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	Game: Birds
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with which stakeholders Ministers in her Department held discussions on the renewal of General Licence 43 for releasing gamebirds on protected areas between 1 May 2022 and 31 May 2023.
tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
uin	193814
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>The Department has held frequent meetings with stakeholders, including those interested in the release of gamebirds.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 25/07/2023 08:05:37 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford

1600014

registered interest
date	28/02/2023
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	Game: Birds
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 delay the opening of the woodcock shooting season to 1 December.
tabling member constituency	Shrewsbury and Atcham
tabling member printed	Daniel Kawczynski
uin	155067
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2023 answer text <p>Defra is committed to reviewing the protection we afford to wild birds listed on Schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which permits the hunting of a species listed on Part 1 outside of its close season.</p><p> </p><p>This review will seek to establish the evidence underpinning the listing of species such as the woodcock, so we can ensure that recreational shooting is sustainable and does not undermine species recovery. This might include amending the close season for native species such as the woodcock.</p><p> </p><p>Engagement with Natural England and the Devolved Administrations is already underway, and we anticipate meeting further with them and other key stakeholders to hear their views in the coming weeks. Once Natural England has completed its analysis, we will be considering if any changes ought to be made to Schedule 2.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 07/03/2023 15:46:16 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	1566 label Biography information for Daniel Kawczynski

1585997

registered interest
date	09/02/2023
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	Game: Birds
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential shortage of birds for commercial hunting given the avian flu pandemic and restrictions on bird movement.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL5586
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/02/2023 answer text <p>The United Kingdom is currently experiencing its biggest ever outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) in poultry and captive birds. Defra’s approach aims to reduce adverse impacts on the rural and wider economy, the public, rural communities and the environment (including impact on wildlife), whilst protecting public health and minimising the overall cost of any outbreak.</p><p> </p><p>During AI outbreaks the release of game birds in the UK is tightly restricted. Due to the global nature of AI, countries such as France which supply the UK with gamebird hatching eggs have also been affected by AI.</p><p> </p><p>Biosecurity at our borders is also paramount in protecting our game farming and shooting sectors. The restrictions put in place on imports, limiting the number of gamebirds that can enter the country, ultimately exist to prevent further outbreaks in poultry farms and gamebird premises.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that any sustained interruption to normal supplies of gamebirds due to AI outbreaks is likely to impact those business that make available gamebirds for commercial hunting in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to monitor the current situation both in Europe and globally, as well as the effectiveness of any disease control measures taken. Any future decisions on disease control measures will be based upon the latest scientific, ornithological, and veterinary advice.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 16/02/2023 13:31:28 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1581752

registered interest
date	30/01/2023
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	Game: Birds
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 she has made of the implications for her policies of the report by her Department entitled Risk Assessment on the spread of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 to wild birds from released, formerly captive gamebirds in Great Britain
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	135496
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has assessed the impact gamebird releases have on the likelihood of transmission of avian influenza to wild birds, and between wild birds and kept birds to ensure our approach reflects any risk activities associated with gamebirds. (<a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1124975/Risk_Assessment_on_the_spread_of_High_Pathogenicity_Avian_Influenza__HPAI__H5N1_to_wild_birds_from_released__formerly_captive_gamebirds_in_Great_Britain_Pheasants.pdf" target="_blank">Risk Assessment on the spread of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 to wild birds from released, formerly captive gamebirds in Great Britain Pheasants (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The release of gamebirds is not permitted in any avian influenza disease control zone, nor are gamebird releases permitted while an avian influenza prevention zone including mandatory housing measures is in force.</p><p> </p><p>We are continuing to monitor the current situation including through surveillance for avian influenza in wild birds together with the effectiveness of any disease control measures taken. Any future decisions on disease control measures will be based upon the latest scientific, ornithological, and veterinary advice.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 07/02/2023 17:28:57 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1581367

registered interest
date	26/01/2023
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	Game: Birds
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of released gamebirds in captive bird operations are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	133586
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2023 answer text <p>Under avian influenza rules in England, gamebirds include pheasants, partridges, ptarmigan, grouse or moor game, black (or heath) game and ducks bred for shooting, and once game birds have been released, they are classed as wild birds. The person who released the gamebirds is no longer classed as the keeper of the birds. Prior to release, gamebirds are classified as kept poultry.</p><p>Registration with the Animal Plant Health Agency is mandatory for all keepers of over 50 poultry (voluntary registration is also available for all bird keepers with less than 50 birds). 8857 gamebird establishments are currently registered with APHA. Local authorities are responsible for enforcement of both avian influenza disease control rules and poultry registration. Defra and APHA do not hold data on the level of compliance with poultry registration requirements amongst establishments that release game-birds.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 03/02/2023 14:34:52 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1581368

registered interest
date	26/01/2023
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	Game: Birds
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many release sites for non-native gamebirds there are in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	133649
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2023 answer text <p>The Government does not hold information on the total number of gamebird releases or their locations in the UK. However, Natural England holds data about the release of common pheasant and red-legged partridge undertaken within or close to European Protected Sites in England. In 2022 there were 235 such release locations.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 03/02/2023 14:32:37 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1581369

registered interest
date	26/01/2023
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	Game: Birds
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 she will make an assessment of the adequacy of available data on the (a) number of gamebirds released and (b) number and locations of release sites for (i) effectively assessing and controlling the spread of diseases from gamebirds to wildlife and (ii) monitoring of other environmental impacts of gamebird releases.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	133650
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2023 answer text <p>There are currently no plans to undertake an assessment of the adequacy of available data on gamebirds.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 09/02/2023 15:36:54 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1581370

registered interest
date	26/01/2023
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	Game: Birds
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 she will make it her policy to regulate catching-up activities for gamebirds in winter 2023-24, in the context of increases in High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	133651
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2023 answer text <p>Defra’s approach to avian influenza control is set out in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notifiable-avian-disease-control-strategy" target="_blank">Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain</a> supported by the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mitigation-strategy-for-avian-influenza-in-wild-birds-in-england-and-wales" target="_blank">Mitigation Strategy for Avian Influenza in Wild Birds in England and Wales</a>.</p><p> </p><p>On the 9<sup>th</sup> January 2023, Defra published the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1127836/gamebirds-catching-up-risk-assessment-2022.pdf" target="_blank">Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 rapid risk assessment Catching-up of wild gamebirds in winter 2022 to 2023</a> which sets out the risk levels associated with the spread of this year’s strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 and the ‘catching up’ process.</p><p> </p><p>The risk assessment confirms that at present, while avian influenza virus continues to circulate in wild birds across GB at unprecedented levels, the catching up and movement of wild gamebirds could include infected birds.</p><p> </p><p>Following this risk assessment and recognising the conclusions of the assessment, the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fanimal-disease-cases-england%2Favian-influenza-prevention-zone-aipz-including-housing-measures-the-whole-of-england&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cedc.outbreak.comms%40defra.gov.uk%7C795b625729fc45b4f81008daf2e82f7b%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638089376469712033%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=GkV8t36oiEP6pULsv5Aj3w7sNL35NtcdyIlV0DNdGu8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank"> Avian Influenza Prevention Zone</a> (AIPZ) was amended to introduce additional controls on the movement of caught up gamebirds. New rules mean that recently caught up birds cannot be moved for 21 days. This will help reduce the risk of the disease spreading and maintain our strict biosecurity standards.</p><p> </p><p>Detailed requirements can be found in the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fanimal-disease-cases-england%2Favian-influenza-prevention-zone-aipz-including-housing-measures-the-whole-of-england&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cedc.outbreak.comms%40defra.gov.uk%7C795b625729fc45b4f81008daf2e82f7b%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638089376469712033%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=GkV8t36oiEP6pULsv5Aj3w7sNL35NtcdyIlV0DNdGu8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">AIPZ declaration including housing measures in England</a>. Equivalent changes have also been made in the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.wales%2Fall-wales-avian-influenza-prevention-zone&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cedc.outbreak.comms%40defra.gov.uk%7C795b625729fc45b4f81008daf2e82f7b%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638089376469867993%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=RR71aXfRUzvLzmoqNgASeU%2BAjd3mGgXlK83hA8mp3ao%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">AIPZ in Wales</a> and the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.scot%2Fpublications%2Favian-influenza-prevention-zone-all-scotland%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cedc.outbreak.comms%40defra.gov.uk%7C795b625729fc45b4f81008daf2e82f7b%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638089376469867993%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=7gacv1TLyDgNiJsz4WxB9O1c9NKnL%2FdjhMgVAkqIFbQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">AIPZ in Scotland</a>.</p><p> </p><p>We will keep the situation under close review, as well as the effectiveness of any disease control measures taken. Any future decisions on disease control measures for the 2023/2024 season will be based upon the latest scientific, ornithological, and veterinary advice.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 133652 question first answered 02/02/2023 14:03:54 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas