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

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many non-native invasive species outbreaks have been identified in each year since 2014; what steps have been taken to eradicate such species; and at what cost.

Invasive non-native species outbreaks since 2014 include several incursions of Asian hornet, as well as raccoon, coati, quagga mussel, various leafed water milfoil, acrobat ant, marbled newt, American comb jelly, Asian super ant, American lobster, argentine ant, gulf wedge clam and pacific salmon.

Swift and effective action has been taken to remove populations of Asian hornet, American lobster, raccoon and coati, with ongoing action against the various-leaved water milfoil. In some cases it has not been feasible to eradicate species and so biosecurity measures to contain or reduce spread are being developed.

Biosecurity and control of invasive non-native species are devolved matters. In England in 2016/17 the Government spent an estimated total of £922,000 on biosecurity measures relating to invasive non-native species.

I will write to the Noble Baroness with further information regarding the costs from 2014- 2018.