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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she expects an extension to the period within which year two of the pilot badger culls in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) Somerset are to take place to be (i) applied for and (ii) granted by Natural England.

Natural England has not received an application from either licensee for an extension to date. Should an application be made, it would be for Natural England to determine whether or not a licence for an extension should be granted.