To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received about damage caused by deer to forestry. (154543)

My Department received a number of representations about the damage caused by deer, including forestry damage, during the consultation on a proposed Deer Regulatory Reform Order that took place last year.

Following this consultation, and in response to problems associated with deer damage, the Regulatory Reform (Deer) (England and Wales) Order SI 2007/2183 was made on 25 July 2007. The Order, which comes into force on 1 October 2007, amends the Deer Act 1991 to increase the number of management options available to land managers so that they are better equipped to mitigate the damage caused by deer.