I have not had any discussions with the devolved administrations on this.

Primary responsibility for deer management lies with local landowners. Defra and the Forestry Commission are members of the Deer Initiative Partnership which brings together land management and conservation organisations, with the shared goal of sustainable deer management. The Deer Initiative has produced guidance for deer managers. Defra has not issued specific guidance to the Forestry Commission, which has its own operating procedures for managing deer on the public forest estate.

Section 9 of the Hunting Act 2004 does not relate to the research and observation exception under the Act. Paragraph 9, Schedule 1 of the Hunting Act 2004 sets out an exception for research and observation. The Department does not hold information on the application of that exemption or any research published under or relating to it.

Anyone who has information about individuals illegitimately relying on the research and observation exemption should report the matter to the police, as they deal with complaints of illegal hunting.

The Department has no plans to review the list of exemptions in the Hunting Act 2004.

The rescue of wildlife will not be illegal under the Order, however the re-release of listed invasive species that have been taken from the wild will not be permitted. Grey squirrel and muntjac may be kept till the end of their natural lives by rescue centres, under licence.

Neither grey squirrel nor muntjac deer are protected in the UK and both are highly invasive species which cause significant impacts on domestic ecosystems and protected species. Grey squirrels also have a negative impact on our forestry.

Risk assessments for both species have been carried out under the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species 2014. For muntjac deer, the EU adopted the UK’s risk assessment for this species, which concluded it has the potential to cause ‘major’ impacts. For the grey squirrel, it was concluded that this species was ‘high’ risk with the potential to cause major impacts.

The UK is committed to reducing the impacts of invasive non-native species within our borders. The Invasive Aliens Species (enforcement and permitting) Order 2019 is part of fulfilling these commitments, as laid out by the Government’s 25 year environment plan. The Order also fulfils our obligations under the EU regulation to manage our widespread invasive non-native species.

No direct assessment has been carried out. The Government takes biosecurity extremely seriously and aims to reduce the impacts of invasive non-native species on our natural environment, the economy and human health. As part of this, the Government works closely with the UK Squirrel Accord and forestry interests to implement the grey squirrel action plan for England and provides funding to the Animal and Plant Health Agency to explore the potential for developing a fertility control method for grey squirrels. We have made a commitment that our exit from the EU will not to erode protections for the environment.

We therefore intend to uphold our commitment to the implementation of the EU Invasive Alien Species Regulation 2014 which requires us to manage the populations of widespread species such as grey squirrel and muntjac deer.

While the government and its partner organisations have a role to play in providing the right framework to support sustainable management of deer, primary responsibility for their management lies with individual landowners and managers, and local communities. Where deer are causing economic or environmental damage or representing a health and safety risk, landowners and occupiers are encouraged to participate in the running of local deer management groups, or to set one up where a group does not already exist. These groups comprise all those who have an interest in a particular locality and, where necessary, may involve a managed cull to reduce population densities.

On the question of grey squirrels the government is committed to working with land owners and other organisations as part of its strategy to support targeted grey squirrel control in the UK. Defra and the devolved administrations are signatories to the UK Squirrel Accord, which aims to promote a coordinated approach to controlling grey squirrels and securing the future of our red squirrels and woodlands. Working as part of the UK Squirrel Accord enables the government to deliver on its grey squirrel action plan for England announced by the Forestry Commission in December 2014. As part of the government’s long term strategy for controlling grey squirrel populations, Defra has provided funding to the Animal and Plant Health Agency to explore the potential for developing a fertility control method for grey squirrels.

The Deer Act 1991 prohibits, among other things, the poaching of deer as well as the killing or capture of deer during the close season or at night and the use of certain methods of killing or capture. The police are the law enforcement authority for poaching offences.

Poaching is one of the UK’s six wildlife crime priorities. The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), funded by the Government, is helping the police to tackle these crimes by gathering and analysing information, sharing this with the police and assisting police investigations.

Between 2014 and 2016 the NWCU worked closely with local police and other organisations specifically targeting deer poaching on Exmoor. The action resulted in five arrests and successfully disrupted poaching activity in the area.