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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has received representations from officials at Kew Gardens on the proposal to move the herbarium from Kew.

Defra officials, as well as ministers, have regular interactions with Kew relating to their work and forthcoming initiatives. The Director of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew has asked to meet with the Secretary of State to discuss a range of issues including the proposals relating to the herbarium. This meeting has not yet taken place.