Mr. Jim. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will 431W make a statement on the Government's policy on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. [154617]
§ Mr. MorleyWe will maintain the UK's position as a leading supporter of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in co-operation with EU member states and other contracting parties. CITES aims to ensure that where trade is carried out, it is done in a sustainable way that ensures the long-term survival of all species. It has been very successful in this respect and is widely respected for its ability to produce effective regulatory measures that are based on sound science. We will, therefore, continue to support CITES both practically and financially.