Central Kalahari Game Reserve

HL Deb 25 February 2002 vol 631 c171WA

Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the answer by the Lord Grocott on 30 January (HL Deb, col. 214), whether the High Commissioner, Mr David Merry, has visited the bushmen of the Central Kalahari in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and on what date; and, if he has not, whether they will explain Lord Grocott's statement on 30 January. [HL2760]

Baroness Amos

Our High Commissioner has not visited the Central Kalahari Game Reserve itself. As Lord Grocott made clear in his answer on 30 January, our High Commissioner did visit the area surrounding the reserve from 9–12 December 2001. The specific area which he visited was the Ghanzi district, which lies just outside the reserve. The High Commissioner visited three areas where the Bushmen have been resettled. The visit was part of the High Commissioner's familiarisation programme in Botswana. A visit to the reserve itself will take place as soon as it can be arranged.