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6 Nov 2002 : Column 345W—continued
Global Conflict Prevention
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the criteria are for the disbursement of funds from the Global Conflict Prevention Pool to (a) Sierra Leone, (b) Uganda, (c) Rwanda, (d) DRC, (e) Ethiopia, (f) Sudan, (g) Nigeria and (h) Angola; how much was allocated from the pool for the purchase of equipment to each in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002; and if she will make a statement. [79557]
{**con**}{**/con**}
Clare Short: (1) The Africa Conflict Prevention Pool covers priority countries/regions in sub-Saharan Africa and the Global Conflict Pool covers the Rest of the World. The Africa Pool combines a UN peacekeeping budget with a #50 million programme budget in FY 2001–2 and 2002–3. Funds are allocated to support
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inter-departmentally agreed geographic and thematic priorities, where a joint approach between Departments adds value to the UK's conflict prevention effectiveness.
(2) The Africa Pool's priority areas are: geographic; Sierra Leone, Great Lakes (DRC, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi), Sudan, Angola, Nigeria South Africa and Thematic; Building African Peace Support Capacity, Tackling the Economic and Financial Causes of Conflict and Security Sector Reform.
(3) The table summarises Programme Spend in 2001–2 and initial Allocations in 2002–3, equipment purchases would fall within programme budgets.
| 2001–2 Programme Spend | 2002–3 Initial Programme Allocations | |
|---|---|---|
| Country/Regional | ||
| 1. Sierra Leone | 36,139,047 | 26,529,789 |
| 2. Uganda | 758,843 | 753,000 |
| 3. Rwanda and Great Lakes | 622,520 | 7,182,700 |
| 4. Burundi | 1,500,000 | 690,491 |
| 5. Sudan | 223,000 | 399,509 |
| 6. Nigeria | 514,840 | 1,028,000 |
| 7. Angola | 0 | 239,000 |
| 8. South Africa | 1,200,000 | 1,632,000 |
Note:
* Please note table excludes peacekeeping budget and regional thematic work. IMATT Sierra Leone is included in the Sierra Leone allocation
ENVIRONMENT
Primates
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer of 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 286W, on primate imports, if she will define the categories of breeding, personal, commercial and zoological collections with reference to non-human primates. [79119]
Mr. Morley: The EC CITES Regulations require import permit applicants to state the purpose for which the application is being made using one of the purpose codes given on the reverse of the application form. The Regulation does not offer formal definitions of these codes. However the UK considers that in the case of live primates:
Code B (Breeding) means breeding in captivity primarily for non-commercial purposes.
Code P (Personal) means a long-term personal pet.
Code T (Commercial) means primarily for commercial purposes, including the pet trade.
Code Z (Zoological collections) means scientific / breeding / educational / conservation purposes.
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Mr. Morley: Our records show that between 1 January 1997 and 31 October 2002 a total of 25095 captive bred non-human primates were imported into the UK for the following purposes:
- Breeding: 76
- Personal: 0
- Commercial: 448
- Bio-medical research: 21113
- Zoological collections: 3458
Imports of non-human primates are controlled under EC Regulations implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The Convention allows CITES parties to adopt stricter domestic measures Under this provision the UK decided from 22 May 2001 no longer to issue import permits for commercial trade in live primates.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many primates are owned under a Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 Licence; and for what purposes these animals are owned; [79120]
- (2) how many animals are owned under a Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 Licence, broken down by species; [79121]
(3) if she plans to amend the 1984 Schedule to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 to remove animals that have been shown to pose no serious danger to the public. [79122]
Mr. Morley: As local authorities administer the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, details of licensed animals are not held centrally. However, as part of a review to examine the effectiveness of the Act, consultants reported in 2001 that on the basis of a 95 per cent. response from local authorities, 655 primates were then licensed. They did not seek the reason for keeping these animals.
The consultants found a total of 11,878 animals were licensed, categorised as follows:
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Primates | 655 |
| Rodents | 14 |
| Carnivores | 269 |
| Pinnipeds | 3 |
| Elephants | 1 |
| Odd-toed Ungulates | 20 |
| Even-toed Ungulates | 5339 |
| Birds | 5232 |
| Reptiles | 334 |
| Invertebrates | 11 |
The Even-toed ungulates and birds comprise, for the most part, farmed wild boar and ostrich. A copy of the consultants report can be downloaded by visiting www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/consult/dwaa/index.htm.
The consultants' report has recommended changes to the 1984 Schedule to the Act. We have sought views from the public on all their recommendations, including those on the schedule, and shall be drawing up our own proposals to address the shortcomings identified. Our proposals will be the subject of a further public consultation exercise in due course, as a result of which decisions will be taken as to whether or not the Schedule needs to be altered.
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Environmental Information
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date she expects increased access to environmental information will be available under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and which (a) minister and (b) official in her Department has lead responsibility for this matter [79029]
Mr. Meacher: I have just completed public consultation on draft Environmental Information Regulations. Officials are now analysing the comments received. Before preparing a Statutory Instrument of the Regulations to place before Parliament we will also need to take into account developments in Brussels on the negotiations for a Draft Directive on Public Access to Environmental Information. The Regulations will not come into force until 2003 at the earliest.
In answer to the specific questions, I can confirm that (a) I am the lead Minister and (b) the lead policy Division is Defra Sustainable Development Unit who can be contacted via the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/pubaccess/index.htm
Bear Bile
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to discourage the international trade in bear bile. [79045]
Mr. Morley: The CITES Convention imposes strict controls on trade in bears and bear parts but does allow trade in captive bred species. Because of our concerns that this trade could lead to abuses in respect of bear bile, from last year, the UK banned all commercial trade in bear (Ursidae) bile or gall bladders (irrespective of whether or not they come from captive bred specimens), on the grounds that this trade is likely to be detrimental to the species.
Exotic Birds
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of exotic birds imported into the UK for the last year for which figures are available were dead on arrival. [79033]
Mr. Morley: Records of imported CITES listed birds found dead on arrival are taken from copies of used import permits submitted to the UK CITES Management Authority by HM Customs & Excise. Our records show that during 2001 (the last full year for which records are available) a total of 62 birds (0.92 per cent.) were noted as dead on arrival.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many exotic birds were imported into the UK in the past 12 months; for what purposes they were imported; and from which countries they were imported. [79030]
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Mr. Morley: Our records show that from November 2001 to November 2002 a total of 10983 birds listed under the CITES Convention were imported into the UK from 37 different countries for the following purposes:
- Breeding: 167
- Educational: 18
- Personal: 84
- Circus & travelling exhibition: 1
- Scientific: 47
- Commercial: 10662
- Zoos: 4
- Alderney, Austria, Bahrain, Cameroon, Canada, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guernsey, Guinea, Guyana, Iceland, Isle of Man, Ivory Coast, Jersey, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Suriname, Switzerland, Tanzania, UAE, US and Zimbabwe.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many exotic birds were imported into the UK for each year from 1997 to date, broken down into (a) wild-caught and (b) captive-bred. [79031]
Mr. Morley: There is no CITES definition of the term ''exotic bird'' but imports of CITES listed birds from outside the EU are controlled under EC CITES Regulations. Our records show that between 1 January 1997 and 31 October 2002 a total of 32346 wild taken and 4901 captive bred CITES listed birds were imported into the UK. The year by year breakdown is:
| Year | Wild taken | Captive bred | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 4800 | 357 | 5157 |
| 1998 | 4845 | 422 | 5267 |
| 1999 | 4826 | 411 | 5237 |
| 2000 | 3995 | 1551 | 5546 |
| 2001 | 5565 | 1114 | 6679 |
| 2002 | 8315 | 1046 | 9361 |
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