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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to increase the penalties available for people convicted of wildlife crime; and if she will make a statement.

Strong penalties are already in place for wildlife offences.

The Law Commission’s Wildlife Law Project has been considering the appropriateness of criminal offences and sanctions. It is due to present its final report and a draft Bill to Ministers at the end of the year. We will consider these issues further in the light of the Law Commission’s final recommendations.