Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Tuesday, 24 July 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 July 2007. It was answered by Joan Ruddock (Labour) on Monday, 3 September 2007 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Squirrels

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to ensure that his Department’s regional officers in England are all operating the same policy on red squirrel protection.

Answer: The England Squirrel Forum has responsibility for co-ordinating the delivery of those parts of the Red Squirrel Species Action Plan (RSSAP) that relate to England. The forum is made up of representatives from conservation bodies, woodland management organisations and woodland owners and is chaired by the Forestry Commission.The RSSAP is being implemented through a broad partnership of Government, statutory conservation agencies and the private and voluntary sectors.Implementation of the RSSAP is not the same in all regions as the threat to red squirrel populations, where they remain, is different across the country. For example in the south east, where there are secure populations of red squirrel on the Isle of Wight and Poole Harbour Islands, the focus is on ensuring that grey squirrels do not arrive on the islands and are controlled if they do. In northern England the focus of attention is on 16 reserves designated for red squirrels and preventing or reducing the impact of grey squirrels in these areas. Delivery here depends on a combination of factors including the level of engagement of the private and voluntary sectors.

Secondary information