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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of changes to the best practice guidelines for shooting badgers made between 2013 and August 2014 on public safety.

The Independent Expert Panel concluded that they were confident that controlled shooting can be carried out safely, even in the context of protester activity. The police are also satisfied that this year’s culls can be carried out safely. As with the first year of the culls, Best Practice Guidance for the controlled shooting of badgers is in place and compliance with this will be monitored by Natural England.