§ Miss LestorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if Her Majesty's Government will undertake an investigation into the misuse of quota numbers for ivory tusks under the convention on international trade in endangered species.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyOversight of the ivory quota system is the responsibility of the secretariat of the convention on international trade in endangered species.
§ Miss LestorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why ivory tusks imported into the United794W Kingdom from Zaire on 21 October 1988, with quota numbers that had previously been used, and then issued with new quota numbers, were granted import licences by his Department.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 25 May 1989.
§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take in regard to the role of Ms. Lulita Minkshim and the Finance Investment Corporation of Panama in the unlawful trade in ivory or other transactions concerning parts of other endangered species like rhinoceros horn.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Department has no evidence that the person and company named have been involved in illegal trade in endangered species. Any such evidence should be passed to the police or to Customs and Excise, who are the enforcement agencies.