§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further steps the Government plans to take to stop the illegal trade in wild animals and plants. [3800]
§ Angela EagleThe Police and HM Customs are Excise are primarily responsible for enforcing the controls on the trade in wildlife. The Government is committed to supporting their work and recognises that controls on trade will contribute to wildlife conservation only if they are fully and effectively enforced.
The Government will continue to contribute to efforts to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade both at home and abroad, through its participation in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Police and Customs officers are part of the UK delegation to the CITES Conference currently taking place in Zimbabwe. The UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding on enforcement with the CITES Secretariat on 12 June. This will secure more rapid and effective exchange of information between the Secretariat and UK enforcement agencies during investigations into the illegal wildlife trade.
A new EC Regulation on the wildlife trade came into force on 1 June. The UK fully supports the new Regulation, and will continue to make a full contribution to the new EC Enforcement Working Group which was established last year.
A new Statutory Instrument, The Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997, also came into force on 1 June. It strengthens enforcement officers' powers, and increases penalties for breaches of the EC Regulation.
The Government also attaches importance to the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime. This has already shown that the Department of the Environment, the Crown Prosecution Service, the statutory enforcement agencies and responsible voluntary bodies can work together effectively in this field.