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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the spread of myxomatosis on the brown hare population in the UK.

Myxomatosis is endemic in rabbits and very occasionally can affect hares. There is no evidence to indicate this disease is having a significant impact on the UK’s brown hare population.

There is no evidence of an outbreak of myxomatosis in hares this year. Three carcasses have been submitted to APHA and so far none have shown signs of the disease.