HC Deb 30 March 1938 vol 333 cc2020-1W
Mr. Markham

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken by his Department to prevent the danger of extermination of many of the big game animals of Africa; whether he is satisfied that such steps are proving adequate; and what further Steps he proposes taking to secure adequate protection?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore:

The Convention of 1933 has been ratified (with a few reservations) by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom in respect of all Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories in Africa for which they are responsible; and so far as these Dependencies are concerned, I am satisfied that the Convention is being applied.

Mr. Markham

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to summon the first of the periodical international conferences in relation to the London Convention for the protection of the fauna and flora of Africa, agreed to by the signatory Powers in a protocol dated 8th November, 1933; and what has prevented the summoning of this first conference within the four years prescribed by the said protocol?

Mr. Butler

The meeting of the first of these conferences was postponed with the consent of the signatory Powers, and it is now proposed that it should open on the 24th May next.

Mr. Markham

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied that the signatory Powers represented at the 1933 conference have taken steps for the preservation of the fauna of Africa in accordance with the signature of their plenipotentiaries?

Mr. Butler

The convention has been ratified by the Governments of Belgium, Egypt and the Sudan as well as by His Majesty's Governments in the United Kingdom and in the Union of South Africa; I have no reason to doubt that appropriate measures are being taken by all these Governments to carry out its provisions. The French and Italian Governments, which have not so far ratified the Convention, have taken certain legislative measures in pursuance of its aims. The whole question of the working of the Convention is to form the subject of the meeting to be held next May, to which I have just referred.