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 make a comparative assessment of the survival of heather on moorland where grouse shooting (a) does and (b) does not take place.

The Government is not currently considering conducting any such assessment

The land management of heather dominated habitats has been extensively studied. We do not believe there is a need for further Government funded research at this stage.