§ Lord Livsey of Talgarthasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they regard the survival of the red squirrel in the interest of biodiversity as being a priority. [HL4221]
§ Lord WhittyYes. The Government do regard this as a priority. As part of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan process the red squirrel was identified as a priority species and has its own species action plan, a commitment of government resources to protect the red squirrel in the UK. The UK Red Squirrel Group was set up as a partnership to lead this action plan and continues to co-ordinate action for the conservation of the red squirrel in the UK.
§ Lord Livsey of Talgarthasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the recent independent survey carried out by the European squirrel initiative on views expressed about the red squirrel and controlling the grey squirrel. [HL4222]
§ Lord WhittyAssuming that the survey sample and the opinions expressed were a true representation of the UK public then it is heartening to see that a conservation issue appears to have reached so many people, as communication and awareness raising are important objectives of the species action plan for the red squirrel in the UK.
This is encouraging support for the work that is currently being planned or undertaken in priority sites for red squirrels throughout the UK. Active grey 41WA squirrel control to reduce the possibility of their incursion into red squirrel woodland is part of the recommended actions of the UK Red Squirrel Group to land owners and is being carried out by the partners of UKRSG that are land owner/managers. This targeted control is seen as an essential part of a strategy that also includes habitat management, to make these sites less attractive to grey squirrels. For this strategy to work there needs to be wide co-ordination and partnership co-operation of all the connecting woodland owners. Increased support for this method would serve to strengthen this strategy and further help to protect the red squirrels.
§ Lord Livsey of Talgarthasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether an impact assessment, cost estimation of control and eradication and cost/benefit analysis have been carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as stated in its review of non-native species policy; and, if so, whether this includes the grey squirrel. [HL4223]
§ Lord WhittyThe department issued and consulted on the Government's response to the review of non-native species policy in December 2003. The response set out the Government's initial views in responding to the detailed review report. In preparing the response, the Government took full account of the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its recommended three-stage approach to dealing with invasive non-native species, which the review also endorsed:
- (i) preventing new introductions of non-native species;
- (ii) early detection and control of new introductions; and
- (iii) management of established invasive nonnative species.
The Government agreed with the review working group that the development of comprehensive risk assessment procedures to assess the risks posed by non-native species is a priority, as it would inform further prevention action.
The department has commissioned research to develop a standardised system that would enable the risk of species becoming invasive to be routinely assessed. The research is due for completion in early 2005. The aim is to produce a standarised system to identify those species constituting the highest risks, and to provide guidance on the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of options for management action.
We have not yet conducted a formal cost estimation and cost/benefit analysis for controlling specific species such as the grey squirrel.
§ Lord Livsey of Talgarthasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their estimate of the cost of the damage caused to community forests and other planting schemes by grey squirrels. [HL4224]
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§ Lord WhittyNo specific estimate has been made of the likely cost of damage to woodland planted under the community forest programme or any other support mechanism.
§ Earl Peelasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they regard the project to reinstate red squirrels into Thetford Forest to have been a success. [HL4230]
§ Lord WhittyThe red squirrel population in Thetford Forest has shown a slow long-term decline, closely associated with the spread of the grey squirrel in the area. Over the past decade, efforts have been made to reverse this decline, using a combination of forest management, targeted grey squirrel control and some limited trial restocking with red squirrels. Although we cannot say that there has been an improvement in the situation, this work has been very helpful in gathering information to inform squirrel management elsewhere and we now know a great deal more about the effort required to control grey squirrel populations.
Red squirrels are still present in the forest, though probably in very small numbers.
§ Earl Peelasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Forestry Commission has a policy to control grey squirrels; and, if so, what methods it recommends. [HL4231]
§ Lord WhittyThe Forestry Commission is currently engaged in the preparation of a policy statement on grey squirrel control in England. This is one of the commitments made in the response to the recommendations contained in theSustaining England's Woodlands review.
The Forestry Commission's policy on the public forest estate in England is that grey squirrel control is undertaken according to circumstances, through a risk-based approach. This approach has the aim of preventing damage to high-value timber crops, the prevention of damage to property and the conservation of red squirrel populations and other features of high biodiversity value.
The recommended methods of control are set out in the Forestry Commission's forest practice note Controlling Grey Squirrel Damage to Woodland. The current edition of this guidance was published in April 2004. It recommends warfarin poisoning and live trapping using baited cages as the most effective methods of reducing grey squirrel populations.
§ Earl Peelasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there has been any change in policy towards controlling the grey squirrel since the reply given by the Lord Donoughue, then Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, that the Government would "do all we can to promote effective means of control because grey squirrels are pests and should be got rid of" (HL Deb, 26/01/99, col. 873). [HL4232]
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§ Lord WhittyNo. The statement made by my noble friend Lord Donoughue was in the context of the establishment of new broadleaved woodland and there has been no change in the policy that underpinned that statement.
The Forestry Commission is currently engaged in the preparation of a clear modern policy towards grey squirrels. This is one of the commitments made in the response to the recommendations contained in the Sustaining England's Woodlands review.
In addition the Forestry Commission advises on methods for controlling grey squirrel. Its advice is set out in the practice note Controlling Grey Squirrel Damage to Woodland and this was revised and republished in April 2004. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
While the Forestry Commission has a significant role to play in providing advice on best practice, the prime responsibility for controlling grey squirrel damage lies with landowners.