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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure work tackling invasive non-native species is receiving adequate (a) priority and (b) public funding.

Our approach is set by the 2015 GB Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy, which ensures coordinated action across Great Britain. This strategy follows internationally recognised principles and priorities of prevention, rapid eradication and management, which we are committed to continuing. We are currently updating this, and the refreshed strategy will support the prioritisation and resourcing of our efforts over the next few years.

To reduce and prevent the introduction and establishment of invasive non-native species (INNS) we have prioritised five pathways of introduction and developed Pathway Action Plans (PAPs) for angling, recreational boating and zoos and aquaria sectors. Two further horticultural PAPs are in progress, and Defra expects to complete all the PAPs by the end of 2022. The PAPs allow the Government to set out actions that will prevent or minimise the risk of spread of INNS via certain pathways. The Angling PAP, for example, led to the refresh of the 'Check, Clean, Dry' campaign, which has been strengthened through new collaborative initiatives with stakeholders such as the Aquatic Biosecurity Partnership with water companies. The Government also continues to fund the non-native species information portal, including its alert system which has played a key role in preventing the establishment of Asian hornet in the UK, and horizon scanning exercises which allow us to understand the potential of future threats.

We have put in place the Invasive Alien Species Order, which gives us strong legislative tools, to tackle the threat of 66 species of special concern, including effective enforcement at the UK border. We are funding the establishment of a new NNS Inspectorate to bring the management of NNS in line with other biosecurity regimes. The Government funds strategic research, such as for biocontrol agents for a range of invasive non-native plants including a weevil which will eat floating pennywort, and fertility control of grey squirrels.

We are also controlling and eradicating species through continuing to support the network of local action groups (LAGs) to facilitate strategic action at a local scale, making the most of the invaluable work that LAGs do. This includes a recently launched fund to support LAGs carrying out essential work over the next three years.