§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have not yet ratified the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, whether they will now do so, and whether they intend to introduce a licensing system for the importation of all species in the Convention.
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, we have made it clear that we hope shortly to be in a position to ratify the Convention. Complex discussions are still in progress, but I hope to be able to make a full statement during the Second 2 Reading debate on 20th March on the Endangered Species Bill to be introduced by my noble friend Lord Wynne-Jones.
Lord CHELWOODMy Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord for that reply. Will the noble Lord agree that licensing facilities would be a great deal easier if only a small number of seaports and airports had such facilities for the identification, handling and care of imported wild birds, mammals and other animals?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, it may well be that this would facilitate matters, but I am afraid that I am not in a position to say whether or not it would at this moment. I would ask the noble Lord to wait for the full Statement which I have said I shall be making.
§ Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONEMy Lords, does the ratification or its implementation require legislation by Parliament? If it does, will the noble Lord consider introducing the necessary legislation in this House rather than the other House?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, the answer to the first part of the noble and learned Lord's question is that legislation is not necessary. However, it is possible that consolidation of existing legislation would be desirable, and that will be done as soon as possible.
§ Lord CRAIGTONMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that we should be very glad if this could be pressed on with at the greatest possible speed? Is the noble Lord further aware that 3 nine of the fifty-eight nations who signed the Convention have already ratified it and that the last one was the first European country; namely, the Federal Republic of Germany? If Britain could be the tenth, we should have the honour of bringing this Convention into operation.
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are well aware of the urgency of this matter, but, as I have said, we are pressing ahead with the complicated discussions as fast as we possibly can. May I say that the noble Lord is two nations ahead of me—I understood that only seven countries have so far actually ratified the Convention.
§ Lord CRAIGTONMy Lords, Peru and West Germany were the last two.
Lord CHELWOODMy Lords, as six Government Departments are involved in this matter in one way or another, will the noble Lord say which Department is responsible for coordinating the Government's attitude?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, the Department of the Environment is responsible for this.