§ Mr. Michael BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost to public funds of the endangered species branch of his Department; how many staff work in this branch; and how many import licences were issued by it in 1987.
§ Mr. RidleyThe current estimated cost is £537,136 annually. The number of staff employed is 23. The number of import licences issued in 1987 was 15,923, which represents about 60 per cent. of the work of the branch.