Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations she has received on closing the UK domestic ivory trade.

A number of representations have been made to the Department in recent months on the issue of UK domestic ivory trade. These primarily consist of correspondence to Ministers from individuals and interested organisations calling for the Government to act in this area.

On 21 September the Secretary of State announced plans for a ban on sales of items containing ivory dated between 1947 and the present day, putting UK rules on ivory sales among the world’s toughest. We will consult on plans for the ban early next year.