Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which priority species had achieved their Species Action Plan recovery targets in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland by 2010; and which was her Department's lead partner or co-lead partner organisation for each species. [110273]

Richard Benyon MP; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State: The last formal assessment of progress against Species Action Plan recovery targets was in 2008. The results of the 2008 assessment for the UK and each constituent country have been published online through the Biodiversity Action Reporting System. The highlights of the 2008 reporting round are also published on the web-site of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. In England, 143 species were assessed as meeting their recovery targets. A list of these species, along with the relevant lead statutory or voluntary sector partners has been placed in the House Library.

Conservation of biodiversity is a devolved matter and so action in other parts of the UK is a matter for the devolved Administrations.

We published our new biodiversity strategy for England, “Biodiversity 2020”, in August 2011, and have established a working group involving the Government, statutory agencies and civil society groups to develop indicators for species that reflect the new strategy.

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Species Action Plans (SAP) are in operation in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland; which partner organisations are engaged with each SAP; and what her most recent assessment is of the status of each priority species.

Richard Benyon: In respect of England, we published our new biodiversity strategy for the period 2011 to 2020, entitled “Biodiversity 2020”, in August last year.

The new strategy entails a major shift in emphasis away from having large numbers of individual Species Action Plans towards a much more integrated large-scale approach to biodiversity conservation, exemplified by our Nature Improvement Areas initiative. This approach will meet the conservation needs of many species. The Species Action Plans prepared under the previous strategy therefore have no formal status under the new strategy.

Our strategy sets out that there will still be a need to take targeted action for the recovery of those priority species whose conservation is not delivered through wider habitat-based measures. To address this, Natural England is working up a new prioritised species recovery programme with our partners.

The last formal assessment of progress against Species Action Plan recovery targets was in 2008.

Conservation of biodiversity is a devolved matter and so action in other parts of the UK is a matter for the devolved Administrations.

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to paragraph 25 of Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England's wildlife, when her Department plans to publish details of its proposed new monitoring and reporting system.

Richard Benyon: The set of indicators to assess delivery of our biodiversity strategy for England 2011 to 2020, “Biodiversity 2020”, was published on 29 May and will be updated annually thereafter.

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to support partner organisations achieve the recovery of priority species by 2020.

Richard Benyon: We published our new biodiversity strategy for England, “Biodiversity 2020”, in August last year. This sets out our plans for the period 2011 to 2020.

The new strategy entails a major shift in emphasis towards a much more integrated large-scale approach to biodiversity conservation, exemplified by our Nature Improvement Areas initiative. We have already announced funding of £7.5 million over a three year period for 12 Nature Improvement Areas across England. Many priority species will benefit from this approach.

Our strategy also commits to take targeted action for the recovery of those priority species whose conservation is not delivered through wider habitat-based measures.

Through Natural England, we have established a new Terrestrial Biodiversity Group to work with partner organisations to drive delivery of the biodiversity strategy's outcomes on the ground.