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Thursday Volume 667 31 October 2019 No. 13 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 31 October 2019 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2019 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 477 31 OCTOBER 2019 478 lead on the hen harrier action plan to increase hen House of Commons harrier populations in England. I add that DEFRA has committed to at least maintaining existing levels of Thursday 31 October 2019 funding for the national wildlife fund until the next spending review. The House met at half-past Nine o’clock Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab): A constituent of mine has been terrorised by off-road bikers, who are PRAYERS also devastating local wildlife. Because this is happening on private land, our local police have found it difficult to take action, so will the Department and the police [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] work together to overcome this dreadful problem? Zac Goldsmith: I have had letters from the constituents of a number of hon. Members raising the same issue: Oral Answers to Questions off-road bikers causing wildlife mayhem in sensitive and fragile parts of the countryside. I of course commit to the hon. Gentleman to talk to the police and landowners ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS and animal welfare charities to see what the best solution is. There is no silver bullet to solve the problem. It needs to be addressed, but it is not immediately obvious what The Secretary of State was asked— that solution would be. Wildlife Crime Mrs Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con): Canned lion breeding in South Africa is causing terrible angst 1. Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) for many people because these lions, barely two years (Con): What plans her Department has to tackle wildlife old, are shot at point-blank range. That adds to the crime. [900243] trophy hunting imports to this country. When is the consultation my right hon. Friend has mentioned going The Minister of State, Department for Environment, to begin? Food and Rural Affairs (Zac Goldsmith): This is the last time I will be able to address you from the Chamber, Zac Goldsmith: My hon. Friend is right: canned lion Mr Speaker, so I would like to put on record my thanks hunting is one of the grimmest of all human activities. to you for what you have done for this House, particularly It is hard to see any defence for it. There are concerns during my time as a Back Bencher, when we worked that, although it may not be a direct conservation issue, closely on a number of issues. I thank you very much creating a legal trade in lion parts, particularly lion what you have done. bones, provides a cover for the illegal trade, and we The UK is a world leader in efforts to protect endangered know that lion numbers have plummeted in the last plants and animals from poaching and illegal wildlife 15 or 20 years. As she mentioned, we have committed to trade. We have invested over £36 million between 2014 launching a call for evidence and, based on the results and 2021 on work to directly counter the illegal wildlife we get, we will take whatever steps are necessary to end trade, including reducing demand, strengthening or to regulate the import of hunting trophies. enforcement, ensuring effective legal frameworks and developing sustainable livelihoods. We will significantly Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): I commend the scale up our funding from 2021 by doubling the illegal Minister for all he has done to stop imports from trophy wildlife trade challenge fund as part of the £220 million hunting, but with special reference to that can he outline international biodiversity fund announced in September. recent steps taken to absolutely ban any such imports? I think it is the mood of the House and the country for Andrew Jones: I am concerned, along with many that to happen. Can he tell us what has been done? constituents who have contacted me on this issue, that the persecution of raptors is not treated as a priority by Zac Goldsmith: The hon. Gentleman knows my views local police forces. Can my right hon. Friend confirm on the issue; we have discussed it many times. From the that raptor persecution, particularly that of hen harriers, Back Benches and as a Minister, I have debated the is a national wildlife crime priority and that strong issue with him, although we have been on the same side penalties are in place for offences committed against of the debate. I am appalled by the very concept of birds of prey? wanting to shoot these extraordinarily beautiful, endangered wild animals. I cannot see any obvious link between Zac Goldsmith: The illegal wildlife trade is not just an that activity and protection of those animals. However, international issue; it is a domestic issue as well. All our we are obliged as a Government, before embarking on birds in the UK are protected. Wild birds are protected any kind of legislation to prevent the import of trophies, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and there to consult so that we know exactly what the impacts of are strong penalties for committing offences. The that potential legislative change would be. So we have to Government take wildlife crime very seriously and have do that consultation. We have to do it in an honest identified raptor persecution as a national wildlife crime fashion. On the back of that consultation, we will take priority, and that includes species such as hen harriers whatever steps are necessary, but I can assure the hon. and peregrines of course. Weare very concerned, however, Gentleman that this is not an issue that we intend to about hen harrier populations, which is why we took the kick into the long grass. 479 Oral Answers 31 OCTOBER 2019 Oral Answers 480 Several hon. Members rose— introduce a system of monitoring before the foxhunting season starts in order to find out just how many illegal Mr Speaker: May I just say that I am not ignoring the killings are taking place, so that we know how to hon. Member for Penistone and Stocksbridge (Angela address the problem? Smith)? I am conscious that she has Question 6, on which another party wishes to come in, so it would Theresa Villiers: As my right hon. Friend the Minister perhaps be better for her to wait until then. We look of State has said, we believe that it is crucial for all our forward to hearing from her in a few minutes. laws to be properly enforced, including the Hunting Act, and we will continue to engage with the appropriate Sue Hayman (Workington) (Lab): I wish you all the authorities to ensure that that is the case. best for the future, Mr Speaker, and thank you for chairing DEFRA questions with such patience and Several hon. Members rose— consideration over the last few years. We know that there are loopholes in the Hunting Act Mr Speaker: It is a great pleasure to call Dame 2004 which are being exploited. A Labour Government Caroline Spelman. I am very sorry that the right hon. would strengthen the hunting ban, so may I ask what Lady is leaving the House. I know that she will be the Conservative Government have been doing to stop performing in her own right later, but she will be greatly foxhunters from breaking the law? missed by Members in all parts of the House. Zac Goldsmith: There is no doubt that illegal activities Dame Caroline Spelman (Meriden) (Con): That is continue. They are well documented and often secure very kind of you, Mr Speaker. I will save my tribute for widespread coverage on social media in particular, and the right time, in due course. they cause outrage among the population. Those activities Unfortunately, as colleagues with rural constituencies are already illegal: they are against the law. Digging up may know, at this time of the year there is a steep rise in setts, bashing fox cubs on the head and breeding foxes the number of abandoned horses as winter approaches. to feed to hounds are illegal as well as abhorrent. The A couple of weeks ago I personally dealt with four challenge relates to enforcement and prosecution. As I abandoned ponies, including two foals barely weaned at mentioned, we are committed to maintaining levels of 12 weeks. They were in a terrible condition: their feet funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit, and we had never been trimmed, their ribs were showing, and are encouraging other Government Departments to they had lice and mites. I had to get them rehomed. play their part as well. I welcome the Government’s proposals to take a Animal Cruelty tougher line with those who abuse animals in this way, but can my right hon. Friend reassure me—gently, given the problem with her voice today—that the Government 2. Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con): What steps she will support the police and local authorities in taking is taking to prevent animal cruelty. [900244] action and enforcing the law on these criminals? The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Theresa Villiers: I can of course give my right hon. Rural Affairs (Theresa Villiers): May I join others, Friend that assurance. This is a worrying problem, and Mr Speaker, in thanking you and your chaplain for your we are keen to engage with the charities that are involved service to the House? Youhave been particularly kind in in trying to address the issue.