Beaver: Reintroduction in England Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Lord Inglewood
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Beaver: Reintroduction in England
Lord Inglewood Excerpts(1 day, 14 hours ago)
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Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
The noble Lord is absolutely right. The Government are very serious about this. Nature-based solutions will be incredibly important if we are to get the outcomes and results that we want. We are continuing to make progress, and I am happy to keep the noble Lord updated as that progress continues.
Lord Inglewood (Non-Afl)
My Lords, bearing in mind the experience of the introduction of the grey squirrel in this country and that beavers have been introduced into Scotland, is there not every likelihood that it is only a matter of time before the beavers establish themselves in England—with or without consent from Natural England?
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
As I have said, any introductions are being very carefully managed and licensed. We have a five-step management approach to beavers, which can also come in if there are illegal releases or releases that have spread into areas that are less appropriate. That five-step approach has a number of actions to cope with beaver numbers as we move forward with this programme.