Asked by: Simon Burns (Conservative - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the UK meets its obligations on tackling the illegal wildlife trade under the 2014 London Declaration; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Norman Baker
The Coalition Government takes the illegal wildlife trade very seriously.
The Home Office will continue to work with other departments to ensure that the Government delivers on the UK Commitment to Action on the Illegal Wildlife Trade.
Border Force will continue to play a lead role for the UK in respect of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, delivering risk based anti-smuggling controls at the border in line with agreed national priorities and taking account of latest available intelligence.
The Home Office is also providing specific funding of £136,000 for the National Wildlife Crime Unit in each of the next two financial years to ensure that the Unit can continue its important work, including as the UK focal point for international police cooperation on all wildlife crime related matters, such as initiatives on the illegal wildlife trade.
Border Force and the National Wildlife Crime Unit will consider specific requests to provide practical assistance and training to help tackle the illegal wildlife trade.