§ Sir J. Edenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy with regard to the ratification of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EnnalsWe attach great importance to both the ratification of this convention and to the implementation of its provisions. We intend to ratify the convention as soon as consultations with the Dependent Territories, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have been completed. We hope that as many of these territories as possible will wish to be included in the United Kingdom's instrument of ratification, thus increasing the effectiveness of the convention. We are also consulting with our partners in the European Community about the effect of implementaion of the convention on intra-Community trade.