§ 3. Ms QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implementation by his Department of international agreements on biodiversity. [20938]
§ Mr. GummerThe United Kingdom is the world leader in the national implementation of the biodiversity convention. A draft action plan for the UK has already been published. I have already welcomed the report of the biodiversity steering group, and the full response warranted by such an excellent report will be published in the spring.
§ Ms QuinDoes the Minister therefore agree with me that urgent action is needed to ensure the survival of threatened species, such as the red squirrel population in the north-east of England? When will the Government publish the strategy for survival of red squirrels, which was mentioned by the Under-Secretary in a recent Adjournment debate on this subject?
§ Mr. GummerThe hon. Lady will know that no other country has done as much or moved as quickly as we have in implementing the biodiversity convention. It is a pity that the Labour party did not support this major lead by the United Kingdom. As I have already said, we will publish in the spring our response to the working party's excellent biodiversity report. I think that she will be very pleased with that aspect of it that relates to the red squirrel.