To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the January meeting of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Biodiversity was postponed; how often meetings of the group are scheduled to be held; when the group's next meeting will be held; and what matters will be considered at that meeting. (255919)

The January meeting of the Inter Departmental Ministerial Group on biodiversity (IDMGb) was regrettably postponed because of a clash with other parliamentary business. However, the topics for discussion at the IDMGb were addressed over the subsequent week by correspondence between myself and the relevant Ministers from the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Foreign and Gommonweath Office (FCO).

Meetings of the IDMGb were originally intended to take place at intervals of six to nine months, but in practice have occurred less frequently, and more on the basis of clearly identified need. We are aiming to hold the next meeting in the spring, when the Government's proposed strategy for the conservation of biodiversity in the UK overseas territories will be discussed.