asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to respond to the report of the Biodiversity Steering Group.

The UK Biodiversity Steering Group was set up to advise the Government on the further development of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The Government welcomed the Group's report at its launch in December 1995. It will publish its response tomorrow under a foreword from the Prime Minister. The response will be positive and will explain how the Government, in partnership with other sectors will implement the species and habitat action plans and carry forward the other recommendations in the report. In particular it will set out a number of new initiatives it is taking to ensure that the UK maintains its leading role in the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Copies of the response will be placed in the Library.