§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the trade in bushmeat in Uganda; and if he will make a statement. [122339]
§ Mr. MullinWhile the Government have received no specific representations on the situation in Uganda, illegal trade in bushmeat is a growing problem in many African countries, particularly in west and central Africa. I am very pleased that a United Kingdom paper on this issue, tabled by my Department for discussion at last month's Conference of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), was given unanimous support. The result is the formation of a new international working group under the auspices of CITES, involving the key African countries concerned, donors such as the United Kingdom and United States, and relevant non-governmental organisations. As the issue goes beyond the strict international trade remit of CITES, the UK and Convention Secretariat are actively seeking the full participation of other international bodies such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and the International Tropical Timber Organisation. My Department has already made £50,000 available in the current financial year to support this initiative. I hope others will soon follow.