Written question asked by Joan Walley (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 6 June 1996. It was answered by James Clappison (Conservative) on Thursday, 6 June 1996 on behalf of the Department of the Environment.

Dept of the Environment

Question: If the recent change in status of the basking shark under the IUCN Red List will affect the proposal to protect the species under section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 currently under review. - Inc ref to 277 c134W.

Answer: Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the recent change in status of the basking shark under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources red list will affect the proposal to protect the species under section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 currently under review; and if he will make a statement.[31334] Mr. Clappison: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 8 May 1996, Official Report, column 134. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Government's statutory conservation adviser, will take account of all relevant conservation data, including the IUCN red list where appropriate, when considering which species should be protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as part of the third quinquennial review. The committee's recommendations to the Secretary of State are due to be submitted in October 1996.

Secondary information