§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what new steps her Department has taken to regulate British companies trading in products derived from endangered and threatened species. [63059]
§ Mr. MeacherI have been asked to reply.
British companies are subject to the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which is implemented in the EU by Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97 and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1808/02.
Table 1: Northern Ireland prosecutions for offences related to extortion: 1994–99 Offence 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Blackmail 22 38 25 14 32 5 Bribery 0 0 0 0 1 0 Kidnapping 19 26 35 17 15 13 Soliciting financial support for proscribed organisation 0 2 0 0 0 0 Soliciting or inviting support for proscribed organisation 0 0 0 0 0 0 Intimidation—residence/occupation 56 9 25 43 22 21 Intimidation—person leave employment 0 2 1 1 0 1 Intimidation—to do/refrain from doing any act 12 9 9 7 7 7 Threats to harm 0 0 0 0 0 1 Total 109 86 95 82 77 48
Table 2: Northern Ireland convictions for offences related to extortion: 1994–99 Offence 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Blackmail 9 28 13 14 26 4 Bribery 0 0 0 0 1 0 Kidnapping 8 20 14 12 12 10 Soliciting financial support for proscribed organisation 0 2 0 0 0 0 Soliciting or inviting support for proscribed organisation 0 0 0 0 0 0 Intimidation—residence/occupation 18 5 17 24 13 9 Intimidation—person leave employment 0 1 1 0 0 1 Intimidation—to do/refrain from doing any act 8 6 5 4 3 5 Threats to harm 0 0 0 0 0 1 Total 43 62 50 54 55 30