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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to investigate the data from the monitoring reports by the RSPB and Unearthed which suggest that over 50 burns in protected areas have taken place that may be in breach of the Heather and Grass Etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021.

Reports of suspected unlawful burning received by Defra are being assessed and reviewed.  Early indications are that only a small number of those presented to us may represent a potential breach of the regulations.

Suspected breaches will be investigated, with the outcomes forming part of our ongoing review of the effectiveness of the Regulations.