Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 28 December 2018 (HL12294), what assessment they have made of reports that the hare population has been infected by myxomatosis; and if so, what action they are taking to minimise the threat to the hare population.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The UK’s hare populations are not of conservation concern. The Government is not aware of any evidence to indicate that myxomatosis is having a significant impact on the UK’s hare populations.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce a closed season for the hunting of hares.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Wildlife conservation is a devolved matter so this answer is for England only.
The population of brown hares in England is believed to be stable. The majority of hare shooting occurs in regions where brown hares are locally abundant and leads to no long-term impact on hare populations. There is no evidence to suggest that a closed season would significantly benefit the conservation status of brown hares.
An industry-led initiative resulted in the publication of a code of practice to protect hares in England. This provides for a voluntary close season covering the main breeding season, while allowing farmers to protect their crops from serious damage by hares.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how the current hare population in the UK compares with the population of hares (1) 5, (2) 10, and (3) 25 years ago.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The UK has brown hare and mountain hare populations. The 2018 Mammal Society report A Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals includes estimates for the populations of both. It concluded that the brown hare population in Great Britain is stable, with an estimated population of around 579,000 animals, although acknowledged the population could be between 427,000–1,990,000 animals.
The first National Brown Hare Survey estimated the hare population at around 817,000 in 1991-1993 and a second survey in 1997-1999 estimated the population to be around 750,000. These estimates are within the range of the 2018 estimate but given the different methodologies used it is not possible to make a direct comparison.
In the same Mammal Society review, the mountain hare population in Great Britain was estimated to be around 135,000 animals, although the study acknowledges that the population could be between 81,000–526,000 animals.
Population estimates published in 1995 concluded that there were around 360,000 mountain hares in GB. This is within the range of the 2018 estimate.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the health of the hare population in the UK.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The UK has brown hare and mountain hare populations. The 2018 Mammal Society report A Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals includes estimates for the populations of both. It concluded that the brown hare population in Great Britain is stable, with an estimated population of around 579,000 animals, although acknowledged the population could be between 427,000–1,990,000 animals.
The first National Brown Hare Survey estimated the hare population at around 817,000 in 1991-1993 and a second survey in 1997-1999 estimated the population to be around 750,000. These estimates are within the range of the 2018 estimate but given the different methodologies used it is not possible to make a direct comparison.
In the same Mammal Society review, the mountain hare population in Great Britain was estimated to be around 135,000 animals, although the study acknowledges that the population could be between 81,000–526,000 animals.
Population estimates published in 1995 concluded that there were around 360,000 mountain hares in GB. This is within the range of the 2018 estimate.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are considering a change to the protection afforded to Local Wildlife Sites; if so, why; and what assessment they have made of the effect of reduced protection for such sites.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government is committed to protecting Local Wildlife Sites and is not considering a change in the protection afforded to them. In our 25 Year Environment Plan we have committed to improving and extending our network of wildlife rich habitats, and Local Wildlife Sites are an important part of our existing habitat resource. We want to make sure that Local Wildlife Sites continue to be appropriately protected. The Housing Minister recently met the Wildlife Trusts and wrote to all MPs and Peers to make clear his commitment to ensuring clarity concerning these protections in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the EU on pet passports in the context of Brexit; and, following those discussions, what advice they will provide to pet owners who regularly travel between the UK and the EU with their pets.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Whilst we remain a member of the EU, we continue to be signed up to the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme. At present, the Government is negotiating our departure from the EU and Defra is working with the Department for Exiting the European Union to look at future arrangements, including those for the Pet Travel Scheme.
The rules governing pet travel will continue to apply throughout any implementation period. In the meantime, the Government remains committed to keeping pet owners informed of any changes that could affect travelling between the UK and EU with their pets, and will do so in a prompt and timely manner.