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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2020 to Question 99604 on Pesticides: Regulation, what progress the Health and Safety Executive has made on its review of regulations on the use of pesticides by voluntary conservation groups for environmental conservation purposes; and when that review will be published.

Voluntary conservation groups are not prohibited from using pesticides. Volunteers may use products that are authorised for amateur use; they may also use products authorised for professional use providing they are trained and hold a recognised certificate in the application of pesticides. Untrained conservation volunteers may apply pesticides that are authorised for professional use but only if they are under the supervision of a trained certificated user and are working towards gaining a recognised certificate in the application of pesticides.

As stated in the answer to question 99604, this aspect of pesticide regulation is under review. We are expediting this work and I expect to be able to inform the hon. Member for York Outer of the conclusion within the next two months.