asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the Non-Native Species Programme Board was formed; who are its members; and on what dates it has held meetings. [HL3405]

The proposed establishment of the GB Non-Native Species Programme Board was announced in March 2005 and the board held its first meeting on 12 September 2005. It consists of senior representatives from Defra, the Scottish Government, HM Revenue and Customs, the Environment Agency, the Welsh Assembly Government, the Department for Transport, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Forestry Commission and the Central Science Laboratory.

The board has held meetings on the following dates:

12 September 2005;

19 April 2006;

19 July 2006;

25 October 2006;

6 December 2006;

21 March 2007;

10 July 2007;

21 November 2007; and

7 February 2008.