To deliver against the statutory targets for biodiversity, in England, we are acting at scale to create, restore, manage, and protect wildlife-rich habitats, reduce pressures on biodiversity, and take targeted action for species including red squirrels.

Effective management to reduce grey squirrel populations supports the conservation of red squirrels. To help achieve this, the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme provides payments of £60 per hectare to manage and reduce the impact of grey squirrels. Additionally, Defra continues to explore non-lethal and passive control methods to reduce grey squirrel populations and has contributed funding to the fertility control research led by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the UK Squirrel Accord.

Defra is committed to working closely with the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce to help it achieve its objective to realise the full benefits of species conservation translocations for nature recovery and society. To do so, Defra attends Taskforce meetings as an observer. The Taskforce is committed to developing and publishing materials to better understand the risks and benefits of species translocations. Defra will engage with the Taskforce on the applicability of these outputs to Defra’s priorities, whether on red squirrels or any other species, once they are produced.

We do not hold this information in the Department.

The Government is investing £6.6 billion over this Parliament on clean heat and improving energy efficiency in buildings, reducing reliance on fossil fuel heating.

The recently announced Great British Insulation Scheme will upgrade around 300,000 of the country’s least energy efficient homes. Households could save £300-£400 each year as part of a £1 billion energy efficiency programme by March 2026.

Consumers can also access the Government’s home retrofit tool ‘Find ways to save energy in your home’ on GOV.UK’. Users can get tailored recommendations for home improvements that could make their property cheaper to heat and keep warm.

We are grateful to Henry Dimbleby and his team for their work on the independent review examining our food system and the vital role it plays in all our lives, which included their proposal for sugar and salt reformulation tax. The proposals put forward in the review are independent of Government. We will be developing a food strategy White Paper within the next six months setting out our own ambitions and priorities for a food system that delivers healthy and affordable food for all people.

Sugar is sometimes purchased by beekeepers in order to feed their bees and as was the case following the first report from this independent review, we will continue to work collaboratively across Government to evaluate the impacts of each recommendation made by the review.

The overall size of the honey bee population is dependent to a large extent on the number of individuals who wish to keep bees. Under the Healthy Bees Plan 2030, Defra works in partnership with beekeeping stakeholders on a range of measures to maintain a healthy honey bee population in England and Wales. For example, UK beekeepers benefit from an extensive programme of apiary inspections and bee health training and advice provided by the National Bee Unit.

We need to ensure that our food systems are sustainable and resilient systems which deliver for people, nature and climate, to support our exceptional British food and drink producers, protect and enhance the nation's health and the natural environment for generations to come. The Government’s food strategy White Paper will set out how we will achieve that.

We work, through the UK Squirrel Accord, with a number of organisations towards the conservation and recovery of red squirrels in England. This work is primarily focused on the management of habitat for the benefit of red squirrels and the culling of grey squirrels to reduce competition and the spread of squirrel pox. Additionally, we continue to support the development of fertility control for grey squirrels. We are not aware of any projects which seek to reintroduce red squirrels into areas from which they have been lost.

The recently announced Species Reintroduction Taskforce will bring together experts, landowners and NGOs to prioritise, share knowledge, find consensus and build collaborative projects, towards a more ambitious approach to recovering iconic species in England such as red squirrel.

The protection of species and the setting of targets for biodiversity are devolved matters.

In England, the Government remains committed to taking action to recover our threatened native species. Defra, Natural England and the Forestry Commission are signatories to the United Kingdom Squirrel Accord, working with over 30 other signatories to secure and expand red squirrel populations.

The 25 Year Environment Plan marked a step-change in ambition for wildlife and the natural environment. We are already taking action to fulfil this ambition. We are exploring the use of powers in the Environment Bill to strengthen our commitment to improve the status of threatened species by setting at least one biodiversity target in law, as set out in our recently published policy paper on environmental targets.

The Government is committed to protecting and expanding red squirrel populations and tackling the threats that grey squirrels pose to them. This is a devolved matter. In England, the Forestry Commission works with Natural England and other conservation organisations and projects to help protect red squirrel enclaves and to allow the populations to expand.

The Forestry Commission also undertakes a number of actions to protect red squirrels from the impact of grey squirrels as outlined in the grey squirrel action plan for England. These actions include Countryside Stewardship funding for landowners who choose to help protect red squirrels within designated reserves.

Defra, in partnership with the United Kingdom Squirrel Alliance (UKSA), also provided funding for work by the Animal and Plant Health Agency for the development of a fertility control method for grey squirrels. This research, now in its third year, continues to show promise as one potentially effective method to control grey squirrel numbers in the longer term.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given on 14 November 2017 to PQ UIN 112856.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Coventry South, Mr Jim Cunningham, on 1 March 2017, PQ UIN 65497.

Table 3.03 of the Energy Consumption in the UK publication, shows between 2003 and 2013, gas used by the domestic sector declined by 10.9 per cent whilst electricity declined by 7.8 per cent. These reductions include a range of .

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-consumption-in-the-uk

The National Energy Efficiency framework, published in June 2014 shows the savings experience in gas consumption for properties having cavity wall insulation and loft insulation installed in 2011.The full report can be accessed through this link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/323939/National_Energy_Efficiency_Data-Framework_2014.pdf.

Savings have been estimated by comparing the gas consumption in properties before and after an energy efficiency measure has been installed with the change in consumption over the same period for similar properties which have not had a measure installed.

Further details on the methodology used to estimate the savings can be found through this link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/domestic-national-energy-efficiency-data-framework-need-methodology.

The conservation of sea bass stocks will be an important issue at the December Council of the European Union fisheries ministers. We are working with the Devolved Administrations to secure the best possible agreement at the Council for both recreational and commercial catchers of sea bass.

In February 2014 the UK Government hosted a major conference of global leaders to help eradicate the illegal wildlife trade and better protect the world’s most iconic species, such as rhinos, from the threat of extinction.

Over 40 nations attended. The result was the London Conference Declaration, containing 25 commitments to action on enforcement and criminal justice, demand reduction and sustainable livelihoods. The UK is actively supporting Botswana in hosting a further Conference to review progress in March 2015.

The UK chairs the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Rhino Working Group. This brings together countries implicated in the illegal trade in rhino horn, whether as a range or a consumer state, to share information and to develop and implement demand reduction strategies to help protect the rhino. The Group met and reported during the 65^th CITES Standing Committee meeting in July 2014 and will do so again at the 66^th meeting in January 2016.

DEFRA officials have been in regular contact with the devolved Administrations as we prepare the National Pollinator Strategy. We have shared lessons

learned and how to work co-operatively to achieve common goals. As we move to implementation of the strategy’s actions, this co-operation will continue.

The UK is concerned about the conservation of lions in the wild. We funded a conference in March 2012 in Johannesburg at which a number of lion range states considered the conservation needs and status of the African lion. The level of protection afforded to lions under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is currently under review by the CITES Animals Committee, of which the UK is a member. In view of concerns raised that the imports of hunting trophies of African lions from some countries are unsustainable, we have agreed in principle with other EU member states that stricter measures should be introduced in relation to the importation of hunting trophies of lions and some other species.

We will continue working with other CITES Parties and relevant non-Government organisations to ensure the long-term survival of this important species. In February, the Prime Minister will host a high level conference in London on the illegal wildlife trade to stimulate action to protect wildlife species, including lions, which are at threat from poaching and trafficking.

The UK supports a ban on international trade in polar bear pelts and other body parts as we believe this will help to safeguard the species. DEFRA officials have been working closely with EU counterparts through meetings and electronic communication to develop a common EU position on the proposed ban on international trade in polar bears and their products.