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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the use of the Goodnature A24 mammal trap in England and Wales.

Wildlife management is a devolved matter so this reply relates to England only.

The Goodnature A24 rat and stoat trap is permitted for use in England, under the Spring Traps Approval (Variation) (England) Order 2015, for the purpose of killing rats and stoats only. The trap must be placed so that it can only be entered by way of an artificial tunnel that is suitable for that purpose.

A condition of use for all approved spring traps is that so far as is practicable without unreasonably compromising its use, the trap must be used in a manner that minimises the likelihood of its killing, taking or injuring non-target species.

It is for the trapper to make sure conditions of use are complied with and offences against protected species are not committed. Where the safety of protected species cannot be reasonably assured, the use of non-lethal methods of capture, such as cage trapping, should be employed so non-target species can be released unharmed if accidentally captured.