Endangered Species (Hansard, 25 May 1989)

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many shipments and what weight of ivory have been seized by the Hong Kong authorities to date in the current year; and how many shipments and what weight of ivory have been imported from CITES approved sources in the same period.

§ Mr. Eggar
The Hong Kong Government have seized 15 consignments of illegal ivory so far this year, weighing a total of 0.5 tonnes. In the same period, 249 shipments of ivory, total weight 55.5 tonnes, have been imported from CITES approved sources.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration has been given to the establishment of a Pan-African animal task force to monitor and protect endangered species; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Eggar
We are working to protect endangered species by strengthening the rules of organisations in this field. On 23 May we announced our support for a change in the rules of the convention on international trade in endangered species which would have the effect of banning trade in new ivory. We have not heard so far of a proposal for a Pan-African animal task force, but we are willing to consider new ideas.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what information he has regarding the involvement of Renamo forces in the poaching of elephants in Mozambique; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what information he has regarding the involvement of UNITA forces in the poaching of elephants in Angola; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what representation he has made to the South African Government regarding their acceptance of ivory from UNITA forces in Angola in exchange for military and other assistance; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mrs. Chalker
There is extensive poaching of elephants for their ivory in Angola and Mozambique, as in other parts of Africa. We have no conclusive proof of the involvement of UNITA or Renamo in poaching. We utterly condemn poaching, whoever perpetrates it.
The United Kingdom will be calling for concerted European support for a total ban of trade in new ivory at the next Council meeting of Environment Ministers on 8 June in Luxembourg.