Written questions by MacDonald.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of stoat population in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency.

This is a devolved matter and the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of badger population in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency.

This is a devolved matter and the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with (a) local environmental groups and (b) land managers in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency on pine marten habitats and distribution.

This is a devolved matter and the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support hedgehog conservation initiatives in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency.

This is a devolved matter and the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an estimate of the population status of weasels in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency.

This is a devolved matter and the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is providing funding for UK-wide research into (a) badger conservation and (b) non-lethal wildlife health management.

As part of the ongoing work on a comprehensive new bovine TB strategy, the Department is programme funding the establishment of a new badger vaccinator field force. This initiative aims to increase delivery of badger vaccination as a non-lethal method to reduce TB transmission rates and protect badgers. No UK-wide Government funding is currently provided specifically for badger conservation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support UK-wide research into European pine marten ecology and conservation.

A Long-term strategic recovery plan for pine martens in Britain was produced in 2021, which presents a summary of what has been achieved so far and sets out a continuing strategic recovery plan for pine martens across Britain, while emphasising the importance of conserving recovering populations in Scotland.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the population status and ecological role of European pine martens across the UK.

There are approximately 100-200 pine marten in England. This estimate is based on a recent pine marten reintroduction in the Forest of Dean and monitoring of records in Northumberland and Cumbria. There are also a few other scattered and sporadic records across the country, some of which are a result of unofficial releases. In 2024 two further pine marten reintroductions took place in Devon and Cumbria. However, as this was very recent and populations are not yet established, they have not been included in this population estimate.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage data sharing on hedgehog populations between governments and wildlife organisations.

In 2024 the first National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy was published with contributions from Natural England, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Forestry Commission. The strategy, which has identified several actions to facilitate and encourage data sharing on hedgehog populations, involves collaboration with stakeholders to include leading conservation NGOs, academics, and organisations within the transport and farming sectors. In addition, Natural England is co-funding the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme. The information gathered will produce insights into the factors causing hedgehog population decline, leading to the implementation of practical conservation measures to address this challenge.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is funding UK-wide research into hedgehog ecology and conservation.

Natural England, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Forestry Commission have contributed to the first National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy. This strategy has identified several actions to facilitate and encourage data sharing on hedgehog ecology and conservation. In addition, Natural England is co-funding the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme. The information gathered will produce insights into the factors causing hedgehog population decline, leading to the implementation of practical conservation measures to address this challenge.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the devolved Administrations on collaborative efforts to halt hedgehog decline.

Yes, Defra works collaboratively with devolved administrations on efforts to halt hedgehog decline. In 2024, Britain’s first National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy was published. The strategy highlights the factors causing a decline in our native hedgehog populations, and is supported by Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and NatureScot. In addition, Natural England is co-funding the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme. The information gathered will also produce insights into the factors causing hedgehog population decline, leading to the implementation of practical conservation measures to address this challenge.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with land managers in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency on the (a) management and (b) conservation of red deer.

As this is a devolved matter, any conversations with Scottish landowners on management of red deer would be conducted by the Scottish Government.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on sustainable red deer management.

The Secretary of State regularly meets colleagues in the Devolved Governments through the Interministerial Group. No specific discussions on sustainable red deer management have taken place.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to work with devolved Administrations to improve the sharing of data on badger (a) ecology and (b) population health.

Chief Veterinary Officers from all four devolved administrations of the United Kingdom, along with policy officials, meet routinely to discuss shared priorities. This includes the TB Liaison Group, which provides a platform for coordination and updates on policy developments. This includes sharing data on badger population health, particularly in relation to TB.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the devolved Administrations on coordinated approaches to monitoring badger populations.

Chief Veterinary Officers from all four devolved administrations of the United Kingdom, along with policy officials, meet routinely to discuss shared priorities. This includes the TB Liaison Group, which provides a platform for coordination and updates on policy developments, such as monitoring badger populations. The latest badger population survey began in England in February 2025, and findings from such initiatives will be shared across administrations.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the devolved Administrations on monitoring European pine marten populations.

Yes, Natural England engages with devolved administrations through the national pine marten networking group. This group meets quarterly, and discussions include topics such as monitoring European pine marten populations.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support red squirrel conservation.

The Government is committed to taking action to recover our threatened native species, including red squirrels, especially through the delivery of our biodiversity targets, which will benefit many of our native species including red squirrels.We know that red squirrel decline is being driven by the squirrel pox virus, habitat availability and competition from non-native grey squirrels. To address these pressures, we are supporting research into grey squirrel fertility and have put management measures in place to control grey squirrels to aid red squirrel conservation.We are considering how to go further to reduce the impacts of grey squirrels on our woodlands and red squirrel populations and shall have an update in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is funding UK-wide research into red squirrel conservation.

The UK Squirrel Accord, to which Defra, Natural England, and the Forestry Commission are signatories, is working to better understand the appropriate strategies for conserving the red squirrel. This work includes identifying, protecting, and strengthening existing red squirrel populations, expanding their current range, and promoting better understanding and support for their conservation. Future conservation actions will be informed by this work. Defra also continues to support the development of novel control methods for grey squirrel such as the fertility control research led by APHA and the UK Squirrel Accord.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Government on conservation of red squirrels in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency.

We have not held discussions with the Scottish Government regarding the conservation of red squirrels specifically in the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency. The Government continues to work and engage proactively with the UK Squirrel Accord, which plays an important role in bringing stakeholders and governments across the UK together towards conserving our iconic native red squirrel species.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on measures to protect red squirrel populations.

The UK Squirrel Accord, to which Defra is a signatory, is working to better understand the appropriate strategies for conserving the red squirrel. The Accord is UK-wide, and signatories include Scottish Government, Natural England, Forestry England as well as other nature conservation organisations. This work includes identifying, protecting, and strengthening existing red squirrel populations, expanding their current range, and promoting better understanding and support for their conservation. Future conservation actions will be informed by this work.