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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential to reintroduce previously native animals to the UK.

In the Environmental Improvement Plan [see attached], Defra committed to support conservation translocations and reintroductions of native species where benefits to the environment and people are clear. This broad policy work can include extensive work, such as by Defra and Natural England on beaver reintroductions to shape the framework for wild releases. However, most projects are delivered by external organisations and landowners, including in collaboration with our arms-length bodies.

To support best practice, Defra has published the Code for Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations in England [see attached]. The Code sets clear expectations for projects, including demonstrating a conservation need, assessing feasibility and risks, securing permissions and meeting legal requirements, and ensuring appropriate release, monitoring and advice from Natural England where needed.

Defra continues to support the England Species Reintroduction Taskforce in their provision of evidence-led advice and guidance on existing and potential species conservation translocations in England. Current projects include clarifying the contribution of conservation translocations to species recovery targets and developing a framework to inform decisions on conservation reintroductions.