§ Mr. SummersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been made for designating the United Kingdom's scientific authority for 505W animals under the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora resulting from his proposals to reorganise the Nature Conservancy Council.
§ Mr. TrippierAll the functions and responsibilities of the existing Nature Conservancy Council will continue under the new organisational arrangements. Those with a clear international and Great Britain dimension, including that of acting as the scientific authority for animals under the convention on the international trade in endangered species, will he exercised under the auspices of the joint committee of the councils, within the terms of clause 109 of the Environmental Protection Bill.
§ Mr. SummersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Nature Conservancy Council has estimated the additional funding which will be required as a result of the Government's reorganisation proposals in order to maintain its existing functions and work programmes.
§ Mr. TrippierWe are discussing with the Nature Conservancy Council the resources needed by the successor bodies to the existing Nature Conservancy Council to carry forward the work of nature conservation and this work will continue throughout the summer. The Government expect to announce the grant in aid to be made available to each of the three new councils within the normal timetable for the public expenditure survey.