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

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to adding brent goose to Schedule 2(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The Government has recently launched a consultation on amending Schedule 2.1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Though the thrust of the consultation is proposing to remove certain species from Schedule 2.1, or to extend the close seasons of others, the consultation proposes adding woodpigeon to Schedule 2.1 as it applies in England, Scotland and Wales. The consultation asks consultees if any other species should be added to Schedule 2.1 in England, Scotland or Wales, and for evidence or reasoning to support any such suggestions. If suggestions for brent goose being added to Schedule 2.1 are supported with compelling evidence or reasoning, the UK government will consider such a measure for England.