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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a comparative assessment of the potential benefits of grouse moor management on the (a) abundance and (b) breeding success of (i) grouse and (ii) hen harriers.

Shooting sports bring a range of conservation and economic benefits to rural communities and we therefore continue to support shooting as a legitimate activity, which provides jobs and investment in some of our most remote areas.

There is evidence that sustainable control of predators on shooting estates can play a role in the recovery of rare or declining species, particularly ground nesting birds, such as lapwing and curlew.

We take the decline in the hen harrier population in England seriously and we are committed to securing the future of this bird. That is why we took the lead on the Hen Harrier Action Plan. The plan sets out what will be done to increase hen harrier numbers in England and aims to restore hen harrier populations alongside the continuation of driven grouse shooting. The 2022 breeding season was the first time in over 100 years that more than 100 hen harrier chicks successfully fledged in England, showing real progress in efforts to protect and restore their numbers.

We recognise that it is vital that wildlife and habitats are respected and protected, and we will continue to work to ensure a sustainable, mutually beneficial relationship between shooting and conservation.