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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the current health and status of earthworm populations in English arable soils; and what trends have been observed in the last two decades based on research and surveys carried out by her Department; and what information her Department holds on those trends based on research carried out by other bodies.

Defra has not carried out an assessment of the current health and status or trends of earthworm populations in English arable soils.

However, Defra is working closely with the research councils and is funding research to improve our understanding of the role of soil biodiversity in contributing to soil condition.