22/2/90
3.51 pm
Business of the House
Dr. John Cunningham (Copeland): May I ask the Leader of the House to tell us the business for next week?
The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Sir Geoffrey Howe): The business for next week will be as follows:
MONDAY 26 FEBRUARY-Remaining stages of the Landlord and Tenant (Licensed Premises) Bill.
Motions on the Industrial Training Levy (Engineering Board) and (Construction Board) Orders.
The Chairman of Ways and Mears has named opposed private business for Consideration at seven o'clock.
TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY-Second Reading of the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Bill [Lords).
Motion to take note of the annual report of the European Court of Auditors for 1988 and related EC document on action against fraud. Details will be given in the Official Report.
The Chairman of Ways and Means has named opposed private business for consideration at seven o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY-There will be a debate on the Royal Air Force on a motion for the Adjournment of the House.
Thursday i March-St. David's day-There will be a debate on Welsh affairs on a motion for the Adjournment of the House.
FRIDAY 2 MARCH-Private Members' Bills
MONDAY 5 MARCH-Opposition day (10th Allotted Day). There will be a debate on an Opposition motion. subject for debate to be announced.
[Tuesday 27 February
Relevant European Community documents
(a) Unnumbered Court of Auditors report for 1988 (b) 4582190 Fight against Fraud
(c) Unnumbered Anti-fraud Policy
Relent Reports of the European Legislation Committee (a) HC !/-ix (1989-90), para
(b) HC 11-x(1989-90), para 2
(c) HC 11-iv (1989-90), para 6]
Mr. Tony Banks (Newham, North-West): Is the Leader of the House aware that, since the Government entered a reservation on behalf of Hong Kong and allowed 670 tonnes of elephant ivory to come on to the world market, the Kenyan wildlife director. Richard Leakey, has announced that poaching has risen sharply in Kenya. where conservation of the elephant is under very strict control, so it must be worse in other African countries? Is he not now convinced that it was a total mistake on the part of the Government to allow that Hong Kong ivory on to the world market? Will he allow the House to have not an Adjournment debate but an Executive debate and a vote so that we can discover whether the House wishes the Government to reverse that reservation?
Sir Geoffrey Howe: The hon. Gentleman, who takes a tenacious interest in that topic, knows that Hong Kong is not a market for poached ivory because there is already a total ban on imports of ivory. The strict controls there include licensing for possession of quantities over 5 kgs and monitoring movements of ivory between licensed holders. If there is any evidence of Hong Kong complicity in poaching, and in particular if Dr. Leakey can produce evidence of complicity by Hong Kong traders in illegal trading in ivory, we shall investigate it.
Mr. Phillip Oppenheim (Amber Valley): Will my right hon. and learned Friend consider organising another debate on South Africa to give the Opposition spokesmen the opportunity to explain why they try to present Britain as uniquely soft on sanctions when imports from South Africa to Socialist France have increased threefold since 1985? Does that not show a great deal of hypocrisy, and not only on the other side of the Channel?
Sir Geoffrey Howe: My hon. Friend raises an important point. However, he will recall that the subject has been the subject of two statements from the Dispatch Box and one debate in the past 10 days.
Mr. Tim Rathbone (Lewes): Can my right hon. and learned Friend give a reassurance that the Government will be in a position to ratify the United Nations convention on drug misuse and trafficking before the special demand reduction conference takes place at the beginning of April? Can he tell the House whether necessary legislation will be brought before it to do so?
Sir Geoffrey Howe: I cannot give a firm undertaking in that respect. However, I can tell my hon. Friend that the Government are using their best endeavours to do so. The position will depend on the progress of legislation now before Parliament.