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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy and (b) effectiveness of the Natural England licensing process in protecting endangered species of birds.

Natural England has an ongoing programme of reviewing and, where appropriate, reforming the licensing system. Detailed reviews of the General and Class Licences were undertaken in 2014 and 2008/9, including public consultation on proposed changes. A number of changes were made after the 2008/9 consultation, and fewer more minor changes following the 2014 consultation.

Licences to take action against bird species are only granted if there are no other satisfactory solutions and there is no detrimental impact on the conservation status of native wild bird populations and protected species. This effect, including the cumulative effect of other licences, is considered for each individual licence.