Infrastructure Bill: Invasive species
The Infrasctructure Bill 2014-15 contains new measures to control invasive non-native species. This paper provides an overview of debate on these parts of the Bill for the Commons' Report Stage.
Part 3 of the In Bill provides new powers in England and Wales to control populations of invasive non-native species. The proposals were developed following a Law Commission report, which recommended a system of species control orders to address the threats posed by invasive species to biodiversity and infrastructure in the UK.
There has been broad support for the principle of establishing a system of control measures to tackle invasive species. However, there has been debate over which species should be included in the list of those which would be potentially subject to control.
At Committee stage in the Commons, the Opposition proposed an amendment to the definitions contained in the Bill, so that those species afforded protection under the EU Habitats Directive would not be subject to control measures. This was rejected on division. The Government committed to providing further information on the proposed code of practice for implementation of these control measures and on the status of the European beaver within the proposals.