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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support her Department is giving to Natural England for its work to update the Ancient Woodland Inventory in (a) England and (b) Staffordshire.

The Government provides funding and other support to Natural England to enable it to pursue its statutory functions and other responsibilities. This includes the work that it is currently undertaking with partners to update and improve the Ancient Woodland Inventory. The Inventory currently identifies all ancient woodlands in England larger than two hectares, and the majority of those in the south east that are less than two hectares as well. It is hoped that in time the Inventory will cover ancient woodlands of less than two hectares across the rest of the country, including Staffordshire.