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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) size of the population of, and (2) the threat of extinction faced by, hen harriers in England; and whether they intend to introduce a licencing system for grouse moors to protect hen harriers.

Natural England confirms that the breeding population of hen harriers in England in 2018 was 14 pairs and is assessed as extremely vulnerable, although there has been a trend for more breeding pairs in the last few years. The birds in England are part of a population that spans England, Scotland and Wales, which is not under immediate threat of extinction.

The Government does not have plans to regulate grouse shooting.