asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to ratify the Bonn convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals.

The Government attaches great importance to the protection of threatened wildlife and I am therefore very pleased to be able to announce that the United Kingdom ratified this important convention earlier this week. We now look forward to playing a full part in the first meeting of the contracting parties to be held in Bonn in October.