§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the report of the Nature Conservancy Council relating to harp and hooded seals which is at present being considered by the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community; and whether he accepts its conclusions.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe Nature Conservancy Council sent me its report to the European Commission on seals, with a recommendation that the hooded seal should be placed on appendix II of the Washington convention on international trade in endangered species. I am prepared to support that recommendation. In the light of this Council of Ministers' discussion, I understand the Commission will be putting forward shortly proposals for adding the hooded seal to appendix I of the convention. These proposals will be carefully considered.