§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if she will list by county the current estimate of the red squirrel population; what were the comparable figures(a) five years and (b) 10 years ago; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsRed squirrel population figures have never been compiled by county. The latest population estimates for Great Britain are: Scotland 121,000; England 30,000 and Wales 9,000. There are no comparable figures for five or 10 years ago.
Support for the remaining populations of red squirrels include full protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and measures to restrict the spread of grey squirrels. English Nature's species recovery programme, which aims to achieve long-term sustainable survival of endangered species, includes red squirrels.