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 effectiveness of the National Wildlife Crime Unit in tackling wildlife crime and protecting endangered animals.

As part of the Government’s funding agreement, Defra regularly assesses the performance of the National Wildlife Crime Unit.

Last year, for example, as part of an international law enforcement operation, the Unit supported 28 investigations and supported seizures of almost 700 illegal goods derived from protected species.

Defra and the Home Office have guaranteed funding for NWCU until March 2020.