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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the legal basis for the withdrawal at one day’s notice by Natural England of the general licences for bird control.

I refer the Noble Lord to the letter sent from the Chairman of Natural England to the Secretary of State www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-licences-for-controlling-wild-birds-letter-from-natural-england-chair-to-environment-secretary

Natural England has issued three new licences.

Furthermore, the Secretary of State has now taken over ultimate decision making powers for general licences relating to the purposes covered by the three revoked general licences, recognising the scale of interest and concern that has been generated by the decision by Natural England to revoke the general licences that were in place prior to 25 April.