§ Sir Thomas ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the conservation of elephants.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Government share the widespread international concern about any threat to the survival of the elephant, and we have given strong support to efforts to conserve the species. For example, we are contributing208W £600,000 this year to a number of elephant conservation projects in Africa, in addition to our substantial support for general wildlife projects which also benefit elephants. We are committed to maintaining the current ban on the ivory trade for as long as necessary, and at the conference of the parties to the convention on international trade in endangered species in March, we played a leading part in opposing moves to allow a resumption of trade.
We also supported proposals made at the conference for more discussion between elephant range states and non-range states on the complex questions of elephant management and trade. To this end, one of the Department's senior officials is at present leading an EC fact-finding mission to Africa; they will meet policy makers, wildlife managers, conservationists and nongovernmental organisations in a number of countries.