Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on increasing the elephant population.

I have had no recent discussions regarding the elephant population in China with my Chinese counterpart. However my officials are in ongoing contact with Chinese officials and local Non-Governmental Organisations regarding animal welfare standards in China and the Illegal Wildlife Trade.

We work with the European Commission, through the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), to promote the welfare of a range of species internationally. We will continue to encourage China, as a member of OIE, to meet the required standards.