§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with other governments which are party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to ensure that the proposal to list mahogany on Appendix II of CITES received the two-thirds majority required for the listing. [77580]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 28 October 2002]: Officials from British Embassies and High Commissions have discussed the mahogany listing proposal with the relevant authorities in a total of 96 countries, including those in Central and South America. In addition, officials from my Department have discussed the proposal with officials of the United States of America and Brazilian governments to try to persuade them of the merits of an Appendix II listing. We shall continue lobbying in support of this proposal at the CITES Conference in Santiago next month.