The Grey Squirrels (Prohibition of Importation and Keeping) Order of 1937 is to be abolished.
On 18th March 2014, Oliver Heald, the Solicitor General, informed a government committee on deregulation: “The order requires occupiers to report the presence of grey squirrels on their land to facilitate the eradication of that species. However, it is no longer considered feasible to eradicate grey squirrels, so the requirement to report their presence on one’s land is no longer useful or observed” ((See TheyWorkForYou). The Grey Squirrels (Prohibition of Importation and Keeping) Order of 1937 therefore is to be abolished. It is noteworthy that it does not appear that anyone has ever been prosecuted for failing to report grey squirrels in their garden. Apparently, the Environment Minister (Owen Paterson) will maintain the power to order the destruction of grey squirrels in parts of the country where red squirrels are present. For reaction see: The Journal, The Telegraph, The Telegraph (Steven Swinford), The Telegraph (James Kirby), The Telegraph (Joe Shute).