§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has carried out in the last 10 years into the presence of red squirrels in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryThe most important national work on red squirrel populations is carried out by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Forestry Commission. The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology of NERC collects records of the presence of red squirrels and intends to publish the results in an atlas of mammal distribution in the United Kingdom. The Forestry Commission carries out surveys and maps the presence of red and grey squirrels on its land at regular intervals.