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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of catapults on wildlife; and what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that wildlife is not (a) maimed and (b) killed by catapults.

The Government takes crimes against wildlife seriously and is aware of the ongoing misuse of catapults against wildlife.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds and some wild animals in England and Wales. While the Act does not specifically include catapults in the list of weapons that a person must not use to kill wildlife, it is still illegal under this Act to deliberately attempt to kill, injure, or harm protected species. There are a range of other offences found in further legislation to protect animals from cruelty such as the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Significant sanctions are available to judges to hand down to those convicted of crimes under these Acts.

The Government is of the view there is already sufficient legislation in place which protects wild animals from targeted use of catapults. Defra therefore has no current plans to take further legislative steps to ensure that wildlife is not (a) maimed and (b) killed by catapults though my officials are holding discussions with Home Office on this issue in an effort to tackle these horrific crimes.