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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential health risks caused by the urban fox population; and if he will make a statement.

Foxes can carry a range of parasites and diseases relevant to the health of people and domestic pets. There is, however, no evidence that foxes are a major risk to public health, or to pet dogs in England. Britain is currently rabies-free and measures are in place to keep it that way.