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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether any cases of hen harrier brood meddling have taken place this year; and whether the Hen Harrier Action Plan is intended to be continued, either on a trial or other basis.

The Government remains committed to securing the long-term future of the hen harrier as a breeding bird in England. This currently includes the implementation of the six actions set out in the Hen Harrier Action Plan. Changes to this approach in the future would require ministerial review.

No brood management of hen harriers was carried out this year. Natural England is currently reviewing and analysing the data gathered under the hen harrier brood management trial, a process which will be concluded later this year. These findings will play a critical role in assessing the effectiveness of brood management as a conservation technique.