Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Wednesday, 18 July 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 July 2007. It was answered by Joan Ruddock (Labour) on Thursday, 26 July 2007 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Nature Conservation: Squirrels

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make funding available for the protection of red squirrels in England and, in selected areas, the eradication of grey squirrels.

Answer: The Forestry Commission’s English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) offers support for red squirrel conservation targeted on the 16 designated red squirrel reserves. Over the last 12 months, EWGS has paid out £71,000 in the North-East with another £70,000 available for the 2008-09 period. In addition EWGS can support the control of grey squirrel in areas of ‘critical threat’ as defined in ‘Grey Squirrel and England’s Woodlands: Policy and Action’, which was published on 22 January 2006. The Forestry Commission is also putting £26,000 a year into the Save our Squirrels project in Northern England. Natural England is also contributing £15,000 a year to this project.We will keep the policy in this area under review, and assess future funding according to priorities.

Secondary information