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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many licences for winter burns of vegetation in England have been granted by Defra in the last year; and if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the Scottish Government’s Strategic Action Plan on Wildfires, published on 5 March 2026, in the context of the use of winter burns.

No Heather and Grass Burning Licences have yet been granted in the 2025-2026 burning season. Whilst a number of the applications we have received have been determined, others are still being processed.

Both Heather and Grass Burning, and wildfire are devolved matters.