Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to section 24 (3) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, when the Government laid before Parliament a copy of the (a) 6th Quinquennial Review advice received from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and (b) Government’s formal response to that review and any accompanying statements; where those documents can be located online; and if she will make a statement.

The Government has not laid these documents before Parliament. In tandem with its advice to the governments of all GB administrations on species listing following the 6^th Quinquennial review of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) noted concerns from stakeholders that the selection criteria needed to be reviewed. The Government concluded that we should not consult upon species or amend legislation, based on criteria which were likely to be modified. Defra will arrange to lay these documents before Parliament as soon as possible.