§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the oral answer from the President of the Council of 18 May 1998,Official Report, column 593, on threatened plants, if he will make a statement on the steps which have been taken to ensure co-operation between Government departments on matters relating to the International Unit for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. [43342]
§ Angela EagleThe Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions holds the UK State Membership of IUCN. In this capacity, we disseminate information and advice from IUCN Headquarters to other Government Departments, and consult them about particular IUCN issues which impinge on their interests. The Departments concerned are: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, Department for International Development, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence, the Welsh Office and the Scottish Office. IUCN matters are also addressed whenever appropriate in wider discussions on biodiversity issues within the Department and in relevant inter-Departmental fora.