§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Commission of the EEC has made any approach to Her Majesty's Government which might prevent the ratification by the United Kingdom of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora independently of other members of the EEC.
§ Mr. EnnalsWhen the Washington Convention was negotiated it was agreed that member States should endeavour to ratify it simultaneously, and a target date of 1st January 1976 for this was set. It is now, however, clear that not all member States will be able to meet this target. Discussions are still continuing in Brussels on the question, and the problem will, we hope, shortly be resolved.