HC Deb 27 July 1989 vol 157 cc938-9W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to offer compensation and assistance to those east African countries which approve the transfer of African elephants to appendix I of CITES; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

We do not propose to consider offering compensation to East African countries which support the transfer of the African elephant to appendix I of CITES. Elephants can be of greater financial value to these countries as living tourist attractions than when killed for their ivory. We remain ready to discuss with African Governments further ways of helping them to conserve their wildlife resources, including elephants.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been received from ivory dealers in Hong Kong relating to the timetable for transfer of African elephants to appendix 1 of CITES; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The Government have received several letters from representatives of the Hong Kong ivory trade about the implications of the proposal to transfer the African elephant to Appendix 1 of CITES. These issues will be considered by the forthcoming conference of the parties to CITES.

Sir George Young

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the outcome of his consultations on his proposal to establish a London pensions fund.

Mr. David Hunt

My right hon. Friend has now considered all the representations made on his proposal to transfer the superannuation fund and associated functions, rights and liabilities which the London residuary body (LRB) inherited on the abolition of the former Greater London council to a new corporate body, the London pensions fund, on 1 April 1990.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has decided, in the light of these consultations, to lay before Paliament an order providing for the establishment of the new London pensions fund, a corporate body with a membership of between seven and 11 members appointed by him. As previously proposed it would have an independent chairman with the remaining board members being drawn equally from London local government and independent sources. The London local authorities via their associations are being invited to put forward recommendations for the initial board appointments from London local government and to establish a voluntary consultative committee which my right hon. Friend might consult over future appointments to the board. The proposal to retain existing ILEA contributors in the fund has also been preserved.

It is intended that the LPF should come into corporate existence on 31 October 1989, to allow time for it to prepare for its new responsibilities, and my right hon. Friend will shortly be consulting the London boroughs, including the City, and other interested parties on the text of the draft order.