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

To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have permitted Natural England to revoke general bird control licences before the result of any legal challenge to these licences is known.

I refer the Noble Lord to the letter sent from the Chairman of Natural England to the Secretary of State www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-licences-for-controlling-wild-birds-letter-from-natural-england-chair-to-environment-secretary

Natural England has issued three new licences.

Furthermore, the Secretary of State has now taken over ultimate decision making powers for general licences relating to the purposes covered by the three revoked general licences, recognising the scale of interest and concern that has been generated by the decision by Natural England to revoke the general licences that were in place prior to 25 April.