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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to restore the ecosystems on the moors in (a) Greater Manchester and (b) Lancashire after the recent fires in those areas.

The Government is closely monitoring the environmental impact on the moors but it is too early to have a clear picture in terms of the severity or extent of the damage caused at this stage. Natural England is in contact with local landowners and land managers affected by both incidents and will work closely with them and the National Park Authority once the fires are out. We are on standby to arrange site visits and to begin assessing the damage and help with recovery.