HL Deb 14 March 1980 vol 406 cc1398-9WA
Lord MELCHETT

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why they have no information about the measures taken by countries that are fellow signatories to the Washington Convention on Endangered Species to enforce the convention (Hansard, col. 992, 21st February 1980), while they are able to give extensive information about the legislation affecting trades unions in Commonwealth and Western European countries (Hansard, cols. 993–996, 21st February 1980).

Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTON

There is no procedure for us to extract information on the measures taken by fellow signatories to the convention. We are but one of 59 ratified parties. The convention secretariat receives periodic reports on the working of the Convention in all Member States;we get the opportunity to see but a few of them. The information on trade union legislation in Commonwealth and Western European countries is published in journals available to the Department of Employment. At their recent meeting in Bonn, the convention decided that there would be some value in a comparison of information and they will therefore henceforth compile a summary of the reports they receive. The first reports to be summarised will be those for 1978, which are still being prepared.

Lord MELCHETT

asked Her Majesty's Government:?

Whether they will now take steps to gather information about the methods taken by other signatories to the Washington Convention on Endangered Species to enforce the convention, with a view to improving the enforcement of the Convention in the United Kingdom, and with a view to ensuring that the obligations placed on signatories to the convention are being met by all those countries that are parties to it.

Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTON

Under the Washington Convention on Endangered Species the task of monitoring enforcement rests with the exporting country, with the secretariat and with the conference of the parties. When the United Kingdom or any other importing or exporting country becomes aware of deficiencies in enforcement in any instance, these deficiencies are brought to the attention of the secretariat who contact the country concerned. The response they get is then reported and brought to the attention of the next conference of parties.