Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 September 2026 to Question 27487, what the evidential basis is that repeated controlled burns of moorland increase the frequency of wildfires.
Answer
The Answer of 14 September 2026 to Question 27487 did not claim that repeated controlled burns increase the frequency of wildfire. Evidence shows that burning, especially repeated burning, results in a departure from the typical structure of these habitats and can impact how they function. Peatland restoration is an effective, sustainable, and long-term solution for reducing wildfire impact on degraded peatlands, with damaged peatlands more susceptible to the effects of wildfire.
Verdict: AMBER (30/100)
The reply challenges the question's premise and cites evidence that burning changes peatland habitat structure and function. It does not answer the specific point asked, which is whether repeated burning increases the frequency of wildfires, and it offers only a related statement that damaged peatlands are more vulnerable to fire. The answer is partial and hedged, so the person who asked would likely need to ask again for a direct answer on wildfire frequency.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What the evidential basis is for the position that repeated controlled burns of moorland increase the frequency of wildfires. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply disputes the premise (seq 1) and cites evidence that burning changes habitat structure and function (seq 2), but it gives no evidence on whether repeated burns increase wildfire frequency, which is the specific link the item asks about. Seq 4 (damaged peatlands are more susceptible to wildfire) is related but does not address burning causing more fires. |