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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the release of non-native (a) raptors and (b) other birds of prey into the wild.

Release of non-native birds of prey (also known as raptors) in England is regulated by section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA) which prohibits the introduction into the wild of any animal of a kind which is not ordinarily resident in, and is not a regular visitor to, Great Britain in a wild state, or any species of animal or plant listed in Schedule 9 of the Act.

Section 16 of the WCA provides for the release of such non-native species into the wild if it is done under and in accordance with the terms of a licence. Any potential implications of the release would be assessed as part of the license issuing process.

The refreshed GB Invasive non-native species strategy, published in early 2023, follows internationally recognised principles and priorities of prevention, rapid eradication and management, which we are committed to continuing.