§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many experts work for his Department on the protection of fragile coral atolls in the northern Gulf; what contact he has had with Dr. Nigel Downing, formerly of the Kuwaiti scientific service, on the damage to fish larvae; and how many civilians working on the ecological consequences of the Gulf war have been flown to Kuwait at Her Majesty's Government's expense.
§ Mr. BaldryThe protection of coral atolls in the northern Gulf lies outside the direct responsibilities of my Department. On the action that we have taken to pass Dr. Downing's concerns to the Government of Kuwait, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him on 21 March 1991,Official Report, Vol. 188, column 171. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met the transport cost of a team of three officials of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who flew to the Gulf in response to a specific request from the Government of Saudi Arabia.