Foxes: Sites of Special Scientific Interest

(asked on 1st May 2019) - View Source

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Natural England on the provision of information on fox numbers in each site of special scientific interest; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Robert Goodwill Portrait
Robert Goodwill
This question was answered on 14th May 2019

I have been well informed of the discussions that my officials are having with Natural England (NE) on this issue. NE’s licencing process for badger control includes a detailed assessment of effects on protected wildlife sites such as sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs). In 2018, NE’s successful defence of judicial review proceedings against these assessments included a commitment to review its procedures on and within 2km of SSSIs, where they support bird species which may be vulnerable to a potential increase in fox predation as a result of a reduction in badger numbers. NE will collect information in order to make a judgement on whether sufficient fox control is taking place to avoid this potential risk.

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