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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the operation and outcomes of statutory close seasons for hares in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and whether they intend to align the level of protection for hares in England with those in other parts of the United Kingdom.

The Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive have indeed already introduced close seasons for their populations of hare. Whilst the UK Government has made no formal assessment of these measures, we will consider lessons from the experience in Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, wildlife management is a devolved activity and the precise nature of any changes in England will be considered on their own merit.