Tuesday Volume 638 27 March 2018 No. 118 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 27 March 2018 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2018 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 627 27 MARCH 2018 628 David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): The Minister will know House of Commons that this is an important international issue, but the products also land in the United Kingdom. What discussions is she having with the Home Office to Tuesday 27 March 2018 ensure that we raise the level of fines for those in receipt of illegal wildlife material in this country? The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Harriett Baldwin: The right hon. Gentleman is right to suggest that it is crucial that we work to tackle this PRAYERS illegal trade right across the Government, not only with the Home Office but with our colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to ensure [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] that we consult on further restrictions on this trade. Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP): Oral Answers to Questions The Minister will be aware of the pitiful sight of the last remaining species of some wildlife disappearing from our planet for ever. What steps are being taken to ensure that that is not replicated, particularly across the FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE continent of Africa? Harriett Baldwin: The whole world was shocked by The Secretary of State was asked— the case of Sudan, the last male northern white rhino. He was the last of the species. This shows the absolute Illegal Wildlife Trade urgency for the world to act together to tackle this illegal crime, which is why it is so important that we 1. Julian Knight (Solihull) (Con): What steps his host the international conference in October. Department is taking to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. [904582] Mrs Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con): The passing of Sudan marks not only the ending of that 3. Alan Mak (Havant) (Con): What steps his Department species; we could see the end of many other species in is taking to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. [904584] Africa and other countries if we do not take the lead and show the world what we are doing. I have been The Minister for Africa (Harriett Baldwin): The UK campaigning to stop elephants disappearing, as my is taking a leading role in ending the illegal wildlife hon. Friend is aware. Can we make sure that we take the trade globally. The Government are funding practical lead in the world? action to reduce demand, strengthen enforcement and develop sustainable livelihoods in the communities affected Harriett Baldwin: I pay tribute to my hon. Friend and by the illegal wildlife trade. We will host an ambitious her remarkable track record of campaigning on this high-level international conference in October to push issue. She is absolutely right to highlight the fact that, for further progress. according to the Living Planet Index, global populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles declined Julian Knight: Does the Minister agree that it is often by 58% between 1970 and 2012. It is therefore crucial the same criminal groups involved in the illegal wildlife that, as a world, we work together to tackle this terrible trade who smuggle drugs, people-traffic and commit crime. other nefarious acts? Does that not demonstrate why it is right that we do all we can to tackle them head on? Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab): On average, the UK Border Force seized 130 kg of illegally trafficked Harriett Baldwin: My hon. Friend is absolutely right ivory in the years from 2013 to 2016, but in 2017 the to say that organised crime is attracted to the illegal figure fell to 40 kg. Is that because the trade is shrinking wildlife trade, as it is attracted to others such as the or because the Government are not catching as much? drug trade and human trafficking. That is why this is a transnational problem, and why the world must work Harriett Baldwin: It is testament to the incredibly together to end this terrible crime. important work that is done by the UK Border Force and the work that we do through the National Crime Alan Mak: British scientists have developed new forensic Agency overseas. In Côte d’Ivoire recently, I saw the techniques to help to identify ivory poachers, including work that we are doing with the police force on this new fingerprint kits. Will my hon. Friend continue to worldwide phenomenon. We need to work together support scientific techniques to try to clamp down on internationally to tackle this heinous crime. illegal wildlife traders? Harriett Baldwin: My hon. Friend is absolutely right Russia to say that having the right forensic evidence in place is crucial. Indeed, many of the projects that the UK is 2. James Brokenshire (Old Bexley and Sidcup) (Con): supporting worldwide are using that expertise to get the What discussions he has had with his international right forensics, so that the criminals can be prosecuted counterparts on the Salisbury incident; and if he will and these crimes can be tackled worldwide. make a statement. [904583] 629 Oral Answers 27 MARCH 2018 Oral Answers 630 7. Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): We hope that that will make it even easier for our law What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts enforcement agencies to prosecute such people. They in EU member states on diplomatic relations with Russia. already have such powers, and it is important that they [904589] are allowed to get on with their job without political interference. 10. Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab): What discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the Salisbury Sir Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con): Will my incident; and if he will make a statement. [904593] right hon. Friend congratulate the foreign service, the intelligence services and all those others involved in The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth putting together this exceptional coalition? Does he Affairs (Boris Johnson): Following the abhorrent chemical agree that international institutions need strengthening attack in Salisbury, I have had a number of discussions against Russia’s constant infiltration? Will he take steps with counterparts across the EU, the US and elsewhere, to examine what might be done at the UN, the World which has helped to foster an unprecedented, robust, Bank and the IMF to strengthen their resources against international response to this reckless Russian act. such infiltration? James Brokenshire: I commend my right hon. Friend for that approach. President Putin and the Russian Boris Johnson: I thank my right hon. Friend, who will Government should be in no doubt about the resolute know that we have enjoyed strong support, not just response of the UK and our international allies to what bilaterally but multilaterally, for our explanation of remains a brazen and utterly repugnant act on UK soil. what happened at Salisbury.We had the NATO statement Given that we will need to continue to work with our and the statements by our friends in the UN Security allies, will he ensure that Russian intelligence officers, Council, and the EU ambassador to Russia has also expelled from one country, will be denied entry into been recalled. other countries? Will he also ensure that international co-operation is strengthened to trace tainted funds, 21. [904606] Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) enhance cyber-resilience and support criminal investigations (Lab): The Prime Minister swung full support behind into the deaths of Russian citizens in the UK and her position among our EU allies, which is encouraging, elsewhere? but how will we ever replicate that influence on foreign policy after we leave, when we will not even have a seat Boris Johnson: My right hon. Friend makes an extremely at the table? good point. One of the conclusions that we can draw from the 23 countries who chose to expel diplomats or Boris Johnson: I am afraid I must correct the hon. people whose presence was not conducive to the public Lady. The UK may be leaving the EU, but we are not good, as they say, is the importance that they attach to leaving Europe, and we remain unconditionally committed co-operation with our security services. He should be in to the security of our friends and partners. As she will no doubt that that co-operation will intensify in the know, we secured strong support from the EU both months and years ahead. institutionally and bilaterally, but it is worth observing that not every EU member chose to withdraw—expel— Alan Brown: Although Scotland suffered a self-inflicted diplomats. Many of them did, however, and that is a withdrawal from the World cup, many fans will still good omen for the future. travel from Scotland to the tournament, as will thousands of England fans.Following the expulsion of UK diplomats Jack Lopresti (Filton and Bradley Stoke) (Con): Does from Russia, has the Foreign Secretary approached any my right hon. Friend agree that the international response EU colleagues to ask for additional consular assistance to the Salisbury incident demonstrates the enduring to be made available to the UK citizens who travel? value, reliance and quality of our NATO alliance? Boris Johnson: I understand the hon. Gentleman’s Boris Johnson: I do; I thank my hon. Friend for that point. We have not yet sought extra consular assistance excellent point. NATO was one of the very first off the from any other European country, and we are content blocks with a powerful statement, which a lot of people with the arrangements that we have at the moment.