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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on the Government review of the Forestry Commission's policy on grey squirrels.

The Secretary of State asked the Forestry Commission to review the policy for grey squirrels in England set out in the document published in January 2006 entitled ‘Grey Squirrels and England’s Woodlands: Policy and Action’ with a view to making improvements where necessary. Following a stakeholder meeting earlier this year and other information received and researched Government is considering advice from the Forestry Commission on the future of grey squirrel policy in England.

At the UK level Government has signed the Squirrel Accord which will draw together UK organisations involved in both red squirrel conservation and grey squirrel control for protection of woodlands under a common aim. Defra and Forestry Commission are working with the Red Squirrel Survival Trust and others on an effective system for administering and supporting the Accord going forward.