§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many countries in the EEC and in Europe generally, including the United Kingdom, have no legislation, actual or pending, to protect the otter.
§ Mr. MarksA report published in 1976 by the Council of Europe indicated that the European otter is protected to a greater or lesser extent by legislation by all member States of the EEC except the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic and a further 13 European countries outside the Community. However, I understand that the Irish Republic has since brought in such legislation. In addition, international trade in otters and their skins is severely restricted in the nine European countries which are parties to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, including the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany.
§ Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in the light of the Nature Conservancy report on otters, what steps he proposes to take to ensure the wild otter's survival in Great Britain.
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§ Mr. MarksI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Hardy) and the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross) on 6th July.