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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to respond to the European Commission’s infraction procedure on the protection of European blanket bogs from burning in northern England; and if he will make a statement.

The UK has responded to the European Commission’s reasoned opinion of April 2017. A short press release on the reasoned opinion is available on the Commission website.

We do not comment on on-going infraction procedures and as such are unable to provide further detail at this time.