Written question asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 May 2025. It was answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour) on Friday, 9 May 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Hornets: Non-native Species

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat presented by Asian hornets to native biodiversity; and what action, if any, they propose to take in response.

Answer: A risk assessment was completed for Vespa velutina nigrithorax, the Asian hornet in 2011. The assessment concluded that Asian hornets eat a wide range of insect species including honey bees and that if this species were to become established in the UK, it would have a serious impact on biodiversity. For this reason, Defra and Welsh Government developed an Asian hornet contingency plan which outlines the government response and what actions will be taken when incursions of Asian hornet occur. Contingency action has been taken against all credible sightings of Asian hornet that have been reported in the UK since the first occurred in 2016.

Secondary information