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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to preserve natural habitats for butterflies.

In England we have an extensive network of designated sites, many of which protect our most important butterfly habitats, including habitat for rare and scarce species such as the marsh fritillary and large blue.

Our agri-environment schemes play a major role in the conservation of butterflies on designated sites and in the wider countryside. The Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package in the Countryside Stewardship scheme offers payments to provide habitats and nectar sources for butterflies and bees on farmland.