Lord Hague of Richmond

Conservative - Life peer

Became Member: 9th October 2015


Lord Hague of Richmond is not a member of any APPGs
First Secretary of State and Leader of the House of Commons
15th Jul 2014 - 8th May 2015
Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
15th Jul 2014 - 30th Mar 2015
Public Accounts Commission
15th Jul 2014 - 30th Mar 2015
Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State
12th May 2010 - 15th Jul 2014
Shadow Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs)
8th Dec 2005 - 6th May 2010
House of Lords Reform (Joint Committee)
19th Jun 2002 - 5th May 2005
Leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition
19th Jun 1997 - 13th Sep 2001
Leader of the Conservative Party
19th Jun 1997 - 13th Sep 2001
Leader of HM Official Opposition
19th Jun 1997 - 13th Sep 2001
Secretary of State for Wales
5th Jul 1995 - 1st May 1997
Minister of State (Department of Social Security)
20th Jul 1994 - 5th Jul 1995
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Social Security)
27th May 1993 - 20th Jul 1994


Division Voting information

Lord Hague of Richmond has voted in 1179 divisions, and 14 times against the majority of their Party.

9 Nov 2020 - United Kingdom Internal Market Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 44 Conservative No votes vs 147 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 165 Noes - 433
9 Nov 2020 - United Kingdom Internal Market Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 38 Conservative No votes vs 134 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 148 Noes - 407
24 Nov 2014 - Recall of MPs Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 63 Conservative No votes vs 79 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 236 Noes - 65
20 May 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 99 Conservative No votes vs 121 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 150 Noes - 340
20 May 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 95 Conservative No votes vs 125 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 148 Noes - 339
20 May 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 92 Conservative No votes vs 126 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 163 Noes - 321
5 Feb 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 131 Conservative Aye votes vs 139 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 400 Noes - 175
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 87 Conservative No votes vs 142 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 241 Noes - 256
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 93 Conservative Aye votes vs 139 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 267 Noes - 233
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 90 Conservative Aye votes vs 123 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 280 Noes - 184
3 Jul 2008 - Members’ Salaries - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 35 Conservative No votes vs 46 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 155 Noes - 196
3 Jul 2008 - Members’ Salaries - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 34 Conservative No votes vs 46 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 141 Noes - 216
3 Jul 2008 - Members’ Salaries - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 37 Conservative No votes vs 42 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 123 Noes - 224
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Lord Hague of Richmond voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 75 Conservative Aye votes vs 96 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 305 Noes - 267
View All Lord Hague of Richmond Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
John Bercow (Speaker)
(110 debate interactions)
Douglas Alexander (Labour (Co-op))
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
(105 debate interactions)
Philip Hollobone (Conservative)
(61 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
(3253 debate contributions)
Leader of the House
(925 debate contributions)
Department for Transport
(33 debate contributions)
Scotland Office
(31 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Ivory Act 2018
(2,471 words contributed)
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
(1,039 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Lord Hague of Richmond's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Hague of Richmond, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


4 Bills introduced by Lord Hague of Richmond


This Bill received Royal Assent on 19th July 2011 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 4th February 2015

A Bill to amend the House of Commons (Administration) Act 1978 so as to make provision about the membership of the House of Commons Commission, so as to confer a new strategic function on the Commission, and so as to make provision about the exercise of functions on behalf of the Commission or its members.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 26th March 2015 and was enacted into law.


To make provision consequential on the treaty concerning the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union, signed at Brussels on 9 December 2011, and provision consequential on the Protocol on the concerns of the Irish people on the Treaty of Lisbon, adopted at Brussels on 16 May 2012; and to make provision about the entitlement of nationals of the Republic of Croatia to enter or reside in the United Kingdom as workers.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 31st January 2013 and was enacted into law.


This Bill received Royal Assent on 31st October 2012 and was enacted into law.

Lord Hague of Richmond has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 28 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
16th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to implement the provisions of the Ivory Act 2018.

We welcome the Court of Appeal’s ruling last month upholding the world-leading Ivory Act against a claim brought by a part of the antiques industry. The Government is committed to bringing the ivory ban into force as soon as practicable.

16th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of ivory products commercially traded within the UK each year since 2015.

The Government’s consultation on proposals to ban UK sales of ivory asked for evidence on the value, or number, of sales of items containing ivory in the UK. The response was published on the Defra website on 3 April 2018 and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/banning-uk-sales-of-ivory

16th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to publish a response to their Non-elephant ivory trade: call for evidence, published on 30 May 2019.

We published the call for evidence on the non-elephant ivory trade on 30 May 2019. We are currently considering this evidence and the next steps. A summary of the responses will be published in due course. We have no plans at present to publish an updated version of Tables 2 and 3 in the non-elephant ivory trade call for evidence.

16th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish an updated version of Tables 2 and 3 of their Non-elephant ivory trade: call for evidence, published on 30 May 2019, setting out data on the import and export of non-elephant ivory products in the UK in 2018.

We published the call for evidence on the non-elephant ivory trade on 30 May 2019. We are currently considering this evidence and the next steps. A summary of the responses will be published in due course. We have no plans at present to publish an updated version of Tables 2 and 3 in the non-elephant ivory trade call for evidence.

16th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to use the provisions of section 37 of the Ivory Act 2018 to introduce secondary legislation extending the provisions of that Act to the common hippopotamus.

We published the call for evidence on the non-elephant ivory trade on 30 May 2019. We are currently considering this evidence and the next steps. A summary of the responses will be published in due course. We have no plans at present to publish an updated version of Tables 2 and 3 in the non-elephant ivory trade call for evidence.

2nd Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the issue of the illegal trade in ivory will be discussed at the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in 2018.

The Prime Minister has announced the four themes that the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will focus on: prosperity, sustainability, security and fairness. The UK Government is working closely with Member States and the Commonwealth Secretariat to examine options for the summit agenda.

The UK Government recognises the need for robust action to protect elephants, one of the world’s most iconic and treasured species. That is why the Government announced its proposals on 6 October to introduce a total ban on UK sales of ivory that could contribute either directly or indirectly to the continued poaching of elephants, with some carefully defined and narrowly targeted exemptions.

25th Oct 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with representatives from the People’s Republic of China regarding the closing of domestic ivory markets.

The UK has engaged in a number of discussions with representatives from the People’s Republic of China about trade in ivory and the need to tackle illegal wildlife trade. The UK-China Joint Statement from President Xi Jinping’s State Visit to the UK in October 2015 “recognised the importance and urgency of combating the illegal wildlife trade.”

On 21 September Defra Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Life Opportunities, Dr Thérèse Coffey, met a delegation from the People’s Republic of China including Dr Liu Dongsheng, Vice Minister of the State Forestry Administration. Discussions included the ivory trade and Dr Coffey welcomed China’s announcement to close its domestic market in ivory.

25th Oct 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the UK voted against the upgrading of elephant populations remaining in Appendix II to Appendix I at the recent Convention on International Trade and Endangered Species conference.

The UK Government is committed to tackling the crisis facing the African elephant from poaching and illegal trafficking. We fully support the existing global ban on ivory trade. The view of the UK and the EU was that the large and growing elephant populations of southern Africa did not meet the scientific criteria established by CITES for their inclusion in Appendix I of the Convention.

25th Oct 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are proposing to take to implement the text in Convention on International Trade and Endangered Species (CITES) document CoP17 Com. II. 6 (revisions to CITES Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP16), calling for the end of any domestic ivory trade "contributing to poaching or illegal trade".

We will be working with EU Member States to consider our approach to Resolution 10.10 (Rev Cop16) as amended and any necessary changes to the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations to implement the decisions made at the 17th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In doing this, we will also draw upon the Council Conclusions on an EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking agreed in June which ask Member States not to export or re-export raw, old ivory from elephants and to consider further measures to stop the commercial trade in ivory, an outcome the UK actively negotiated to secure.

In addition, prior to the CITES Conference on 21 September 2016, Defra’s Secretary of State announced plans for a ban on sales of items containing ivory dated between 1947 and the present day. The Government will consult on plans for the ban early next year. This is a key step forward as we work towards our manifesto commitment to press for a total ban on ivory sales.

25th Oct 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions ministers are having with non-governmental organisations ahead of the Hanoi Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade in November.

The UK has a strong record as a global leader in the fight against the illegal wildlfe trade, and remains committed to working with our international partners to bring an end to this scourge.

We have been leading ambitious international agreements in this area and are supporting Vietnam to host a third high level conference on 17 November which builds on theground-breaking London and Botswana Conferences in 2014 and 2015. Building on this we The Government have provided specific funding for the conference, and is providing ongoing advice and support through the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will attend the Conference, as will HRH Duke of Cambridge.

The Government is working closely with Vietnam to support a successful conference that secures high level attendance that will maintain political momentum. In particular we want to focus on encouraging countries, including Vietnam itself, to take concerted action on the commitments they have already made.

Officials, both in London and Hanoi, have been in regular contact with a range of NGOs concerning preparations for the Conference, and anticipate continuing to do so up to and at the Conference.

We are investing millions in projects around the world to tackle IWT on the ground. We have already committed £13 million to practical action around the world to reduce demand, strengthen enforcement and develop sustainable livelihoods for communities affected by IWT, primarily through Defra’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.

25th Oct 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what approach they intend to take in relation to the Hanoi Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade in November.

The UK has a strong record as a global leader in the fight against the illegal wildlfe trade, and remains committed to working with our international partners to bring an end to this scourge.

We have been leading ambitious international agreements in this area and are supporting Vietnam to host a third high level conference on 17 November which builds on theground-breaking London and Botswana Conferences in 2014 and 2015. Building on this we The Government have provided specific funding for the conference, and is providing ongoing advice and support through the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will attend the Conference, as will HRH Duke of Cambridge.

The Government is working closely with Vietnam to support a successful conference that secures high level attendance that will maintain political momentum. In particular we want to focus on encouraging countries, including Vietnam itself, to take concerted action on the commitments they have already made.

Officials, both in London and Hanoi, have been in regular contact with a range of NGOs concerning preparations for the Conference, and anticipate continuing to do so up to and at the Conference.

We are investing millions in projects around the world to tackle IWT on the ground. We have already committed £13 million to practical action around the world to reduce demand, strengthen enforcement and develop sustainable livelihoods for communities affected by IWT, primarily through Defra’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.

6th Sep 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take to close the domestic ivory market, including the market in ivory products, and what assessment they have made of the potential economic impact of that closure.

The Government has conducted informal discussions with representatives of the arts and antique sector on the scale of legal trade in ivory currently taking place. An accurate assessment is challenging as records for antiques may not necessarily record an item as containing ivory where this is only a small component of a larger item. Extrapolation from available data indicates that sales of items containing ivory may be worth in the order of several tens of millions of pounds per annum.

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring organisation, has recently published its report: “A Rapid Survey of the UK ivory market”. Although not an exact comparison with a survey conducted in 2004, TRAFFIC’s survey found the number of market stalls offering ivory for sale had declined by approximately two-thirds and the number of items offered for sale had halved. No new or raw ivory was seen in any of the physical market outlets or online platforms; only one ivory item seen for sale was reportedly from after the legal cut-off (1947) for antique ivory being sold without Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) documentation within the EU. Ivory is a key UK wildlife crime priority with an enforcement action plan in place to tackle risk. For example, UK Border Force through Operation Quiver has in particular successfully targeted ivory sent through postal systems.

We are actively exploring options with interested parties and other Government Departments about how to implement the UK Government’s manifesto commitment to press for a total ban on ivory sales. The UK has successfully lobbied for the EU-wide adoption of the existing UK ban on trade in raw ivory tusks, which was agreed through European Council Conclusions on an EU Action Plan on Wildlife Trafficking adopted in June. Trade in such tusks presents the greatest risk of poached ivory entering the legal market. In addition, these conclusions urged EU Member States to consider further measures to put a halt to commercial trade in ivory from elephants.

A substantial number of proposals on elephant and ivory related issues will be discussed at the Conference of Parties to CITES to be held in South Africa between 24 September and 5 October 2016. This will include discussions on the existing global ban on the trade in ivory, which the UK is committed to maintaining, and the role of domestic ivory markets in illegal trade. The UK is, and will continue to, play a full role in these discussions.

In relation to the confirmation by the USA Government to limit commercial trade in African elephant ivory to items more than 100 years old, with some exemptions, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs, Rory Stewart, discussed this issue with the USA Government during a trip earlier this year. In addition officials in Defra are in regular contact with their US counterparts and have discussed the US measures on a number of occasions.

Finally on the Elephant Protection Initiative, this has grown from 5 to 14 members since the London Conference in February 2014. A Ministerial-level meeting of members to agree governance arrangements took place in Addis Ababa in September 2015. Range states have been supported to develop their National Elephant Action Plans and through these a number of priority conservation projects have been funded.

6th Sep 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has had with the government of the USA relating to the ban on commercial trade in African elephant ivory that came into effect in that country on 6 July.

The Government has conducted informal discussions with representatives of the arts and antique sector on the scale of legal trade in ivory currently taking place. An accurate assessment is challenging as records for antiques may not necessarily record an item as containing ivory where this is only a small component of a larger item. Extrapolation from available data indicates that sales of items containing ivory may be worth in the order of several tens of millions of pounds per annum.

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring organisation, has recently published its report: “A Rapid Survey of the UK ivory market”. Although not an exact comparison with a survey conducted in 2004, TRAFFIC’s survey found the number of market stalls offering ivory for sale had declined by approximately two-thirds and the number of items offered for sale had halved. No new or raw ivory was seen in any of the physical market outlets or online platforms; only one ivory item seen for sale was reportedly from after the legal cut-off (1947) for antique ivory being sold without Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) documentation within the EU. Ivory is a key UK wildlife crime priority with an enforcement action plan in place to tackle risk. For example, UK Border Force through Operation Quiver has in particular successfully targeted ivory sent through postal systems.

We are actively exploring options with interested parties and other Government Departments about how to implement the UK Government’s manifesto commitment to press for a total ban on ivory sales. The UK has successfully lobbied for the EU-wide adoption of the existing UK ban on trade in raw ivory tusks, which was agreed through European Council Conclusions on an EU Action Plan on Wildlife Trafficking adopted in June. Trade in such tusks presents the greatest risk of poached ivory entering the legal market. In addition, these conclusions urged EU Member States to consider further measures to put a halt to commercial trade in ivory from elephants.

A substantial number of proposals on elephant and ivory related issues will be discussed at the Conference of Parties to CITES to be held in South Africa between 24 September and 5 October 2016. This will include discussions on the existing global ban on the trade in ivory, which the UK is committed to maintaining, and the role of domestic ivory markets in illegal trade. The UK is, and will continue to, play a full role in these discussions.

In relation to the confirmation by the USA Government to limit commercial trade in African elephant ivory to items more than 100 years old, with some exemptions, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs, Rory Stewart, discussed this issue with the USA Government during a trip earlier this year. In addition officials in Defra are in regular contact with their US counterparts and have discussed the US measures on a number of occasions.

Finally on the Elephant Protection Initiative, this has grown from 5 to 14 members since the London Conference in February 2014. A Ministerial-level meeting of members to agree governance arrangements took place in Addis Ababa in September 2015. Range states have been supported to develop their National Elephant Action Plans and through these a number of priority conservation projects have been funded.

6th Sep 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made to implement the Elephant Protection Initiative since it was launched at the London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade in 2014.

The Government has conducted informal discussions with representatives of the arts and antique sector on the scale of legal trade in ivory currently taking place. An accurate assessment is challenging as records for antiques may not necessarily record an item as containing ivory where this is only a small component of a larger item. Extrapolation from available data indicates that sales of items containing ivory may be worth in the order of several tens of millions of pounds per annum.

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring organisation, has recently published its report: “A Rapid Survey of the UK ivory market”. Although not an exact comparison with a survey conducted in 2004, TRAFFIC’s survey found the number of market stalls offering ivory for sale had declined by approximately two-thirds and the number of items offered for sale had halved. No new or raw ivory was seen in any of the physical market outlets or online platforms; only one ivory item seen for sale was reportedly from after the legal cut-off (1947) for antique ivory being sold without Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) documentation within the EU. Ivory is a key UK wildlife crime priority with an enforcement action plan in place to tackle risk. For example, UK Border Force through Operation Quiver has in particular successfully targeted ivory sent through postal systems.

We are actively exploring options with interested parties and other Government Departments about how to implement the UK Government’s manifesto commitment to press for a total ban on ivory sales. The UK has successfully lobbied for the EU-wide adoption of the existing UK ban on trade in raw ivory tusks, which was agreed through European Council Conclusions on an EU Action Plan on Wildlife Trafficking adopted in June. Trade in such tusks presents the greatest risk of poached ivory entering the legal market. In addition, these conclusions urged EU Member States to consider further measures to put a halt to commercial trade in ivory from elephants.

A substantial number of proposals on elephant and ivory related issues will be discussed at the Conference of Parties to CITES to be held in South Africa between 24 September and 5 October 2016. This will include discussions on the existing global ban on the trade in ivory, which the UK is committed to maintaining, and the role of domestic ivory markets in illegal trade. The UK is, and will continue to, play a full role in these discussions.

In relation to the confirmation by the USA Government to limit commercial trade in African elephant ivory to items more than 100 years old, with some exemptions, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs, Rory Stewart, discussed this issue with the USA Government during a trip earlier this year. In addition officials in Defra are in regular contact with their US counterparts and have discussed the US measures on a number of occasions.

Finally on the Elephant Protection Initiative, this has grown from 5 to 14 members since the London Conference in February 2014. A Ministerial-level meeting of members to agree governance arrangements took place in Addis Ababa in September 2015. Range states have been supported to develop their National Elephant Action Plans and through these a number of priority conservation projects have been funded.

6th Sep 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government  what steps they have taken to secure a total ban on ivory sales, and what discussions they have had with other countries about implementing such a ban.

The Government has conducted informal discussions with representatives of the arts and antique sector on the scale of legal trade in ivory currently taking place. An accurate assessment is challenging as records for antiques may not necessarily record an item as containing ivory where this is only a small component of a larger item. Extrapolation from available data indicates that sales of items containing ivory may be worth in the order of several tens of millions of pounds per annum.

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring organisation, has recently published its report: “A Rapid Survey of the UK ivory market”. Although not an exact comparison with a survey conducted in 2004, TRAFFIC’s survey found the number of market stalls offering ivory for sale had declined by approximately two-thirds and the number of items offered for sale had halved. No new or raw ivory was seen in any of the physical market outlets or online platforms; only one ivory item seen for sale was reportedly from after the legal cut-off (1947) for antique ivory being sold without Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) documentation within the EU. Ivory is a key UK wildlife crime priority with an enforcement action plan in place to tackle risk. For example, UK Border Force through Operation Quiver has in particular successfully targeted ivory sent through postal systems.

We are actively exploring options with interested parties and other Government Departments about how to implement the UK Government’s manifesto commitment to press for a total ban on ivory sales. The UK has successfully lobbied for the EU-wide adoption of the existing UK ban on trade in raw ivory tusks, which was agreed through European Council Conclusions on an EU Action Plan on Wildlife Trafficking adopted in June. Trade in such tusks presents the greatest risk of poached ivory entering the legal market. In addition, these conclusions urged EU Member States to consider further measures to put a halt to commercial trade in ivory from elephants.

A substantial number of proposals on elephant and ivory related issues will be discussed at the Conference of Parties to CITES to be held in South Africa between 24 September and 5 October 2016. This will include discussions on the existing global ban on the trade in ivory, which the UK is committed to maintaining, and the role of domestic ivory markets in illegal trade. The UK is, and will continue to, play a full role in these discussions.

In relation to the confirmation by the USA Government to limit commercial trade in African elephant ivory to items more than 100 years old, with some exemptions, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs, Rory Stewart, discussed this issue with the USA Government during a trip earlier this year. In addition officials in Defra are in regular contact with their US counterparts and have discussed the US measures on a number of occasions.

Finally on the Elephant Protection Initiative, this has grown from 5 to 14 members since the London Conference in February 2014. A Ministerial-level meeting of members to agree governance arrangements took place in Addis Ababa in September 2015. Range states have been supported to develop their National Elephant Action Plans and through these a number of priority conservation projects have been funded.

6th Sep 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent assessment they have made of the extent of (1) legal, and (2) illegal, sales of ivory in the UK.

The Government has conducted informal discussions with representatives of the arts and antique sector on the scale of legal trade in ivory currently taking place. An accurate assessment is challenging as records for antiques may not necessarily record an item as containing ivory where this is only a small component of a larger item. Extrapolation from available data indicates that sales of items containing ivory may be worth in the order of several tens of millions of pounds per annum.

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring organisation, has recently published its report: “A Rapid Survey of the UK ivory market”. Although not an exact comparison with a survey conducted in 2004, TRAFFIC’s survey found the number of market stalls offering ivory for sale had declined by approximately two-thirds and the number of items offered for sale had halved. No new or raw ivory was seen in any of the physical market outlets or online platforms; only one ivory item seen for sale was reportedly from after the legal cut-off (1947) for antique ivory being sold without Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) documentation within the EU. Ivory is a key UK wildlife crime priority with an enforcement action plan in place to tackle risk. For example, UK Border Force through Operation Quiver has in particular successfully targeted ivory sent through postal systems.

We are actively exploring options with interested parties and other Government Departments about how to implement the UK Government’s manifesto commitment to press for a total ban on ivory sales. The UK has successfully lobbied for the EU-wide adoption of the existing UK ban on trade in raw ivory tusks, which was agreed through European Council Conclusions on an EU Action Plan on Wildlife Trafficking adopted in June. Trade in such tusks presents the greatest risk of poached ivory entering the legal market. In addition, these conclusions urged EU Member States to consider further measures to put a halt to commercial trade in ivory from elephants.

A substantial number of proposals on elephant and ivory related issues will be discussed at the Conference of Parties to CITES to be held in South Africa between 24 September and 5 October 2016. This will include discussions on the existing global ban on the trade in ivory, which the UK is committed to maintaining, and the role of domestic ivory markets in illegal trade. The UK is, and will continue to, play a full role in these discussions.

In relation to the confirmation by the USA Government to limit commercial trade in African elephant ivory to items more than 100 years old, with some exemptions, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs, Rory Stewart, discussed this issue with the USA Government during a trip earlier this year. In addition officials in Defra are in regular contact with their US counterparts and have discussed the US measures on a number of occasions.

Finally on the Elephant Protection Initiative, this has grown from 5 to 14 members since the London Conference in February 2014. A Ministerial-level meeting of members to agree governance arrangements took place in Addis Ababa in September 2015. Range states have been supported to develop their National Elephant Action Plans and through these a number of priority conservation projects have been funded.

6th Feb 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff worked full time on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative in (1) 2015, (2) 2016, and (3) 2017; and how many such staff are currently working on the Initiative.

In 2015, there were seven staff working full time on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI). In 2016, there were four members of staff working full time. In 2017, there were three staff working full time. Currently, we have a core team of three staff working full time in London, as well as surge capacity to support specific activities. In addition, PSVI work is mainstreamed and taken forward by staff around our network of posts, who advance the PSVI as part of a broader portfolio, for example, via the UK’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2018-22, which staff in a number of missions have recently helped launch.

6th Feb 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the budget for the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) in (1) 2016, and (2) 2017; what is the current budget; and how PSVI work has been organised within the Foreign and Commonwealth Unit since July 2016.

In the financial year 2016-17, £2,969,379 of policy programme funds from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office core budget were spent on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI). In that financial year, a further £8,056,685 was spent from the cross-Government Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) on our wider work on Gender, Peace and Security, including work to further the PSVI. In the current financial year, 2017-18, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office policy programme fund allocation for PSVI work is £2,463,466. An additional £7,435,423 has been allocated from the cross-Government CSSF on Gender, Peace and Security.

PSVI work is handled by the PSVI Team, which sits within the Gender Equality Unit (GEU). The GEU was formed on 9 October 2017, bringing together the four officials who since July 2016 had worked on PSVI, with other colleagues dealing with various aspects of gender equality, including Women, Peace and Security, other gender in conflict issues, women’s rights and LGBT rights, but who until then had been working in different FCO Departments. Officials in GEU now work closely together to ensure a coherent approach to gender equality, responding flexibly to emerging requirements, to deliver a foreign policy which consciously and consistently delivers for women and girls around the world.

6th Feb 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Foreign Secretary last met with the Steering Board of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative.

The Foreign Secretary has not met the Steering Board of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative. It is the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PMSR) who chairs the Steering Board. In my capacity as the PMSR, I chaired a meeting of the Steering Board on 13 September 2017. I look forward to chairing the next meeting of the Steering Board in the spring.

6th Feb 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Foreign Secretary last raised the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative with his international counterparts.

The Foreign Secretary last raised sexual violence and the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative with the Burmese government during his visit to Burma on 11 February 2018.

6th Feb 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their goals for the planned meeting in 2019 to review commitments made at the 2014 London Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict; and what resources they have devoted to that meeting.

The goals of this meeting are to make progress on ending stigma in at least three priority countries; help secure justice and accountability for survivors in at least three countries; and, develop and agree more measures to prevent sexual violence in conflict, including through military training, engagement with the media and religious/faith leaders. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will work with a range of stakeholders to deliver this, including Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative champion countries, parliamentarians, implementing partners, civil society and international organisations, including the office of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General, Pramila Patten.

2nd Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government what further support they intend to offer members of the Elephant Protection Initiative to succeed in protecting their wildlife.

The UK Government has supported the work of the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) since its launch at the 2014 Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) conference in London, including providing approximately £1.2 million funding through Stop Ivory. The Minister for Asia and the Pacific and the Minister for Africa both recently met Helen Clarke, co-chair of the new EPI Consultative Group, to discuss Her Majesty's Government's support for the next phase of the EPIs work and in developing plans for the 2018 London IWT Conference. The UK Government also supports countries, including EPI members, to tackle poaching and the illegal ivory trade through the Global Environment Facility which is providing $131 million (£97 million) over seven years from 2015 to the Global Wildlife Programme. Our overseas network has supported EPI events in a number of member states and we are happy to continue this support.

2nd Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative experts have been deployed to Bangladesh in response to the atrocities committed against the Rohingya people.

The Head of ​the ​Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s PSVI Team recently visited Bangladesh, including Dhaka and Cox's Bazar, with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG)'s mission will meet survivors, service providers, government officials and security services. The FCO, working with the Stabilisation Unit, is deploying two Deployable Civilian Experts to Bangladesh this month to conduct a needs assessment. These experts in gender issues and criminal law, including sexual violence in conflict, will build on the SRSG and Head of PSVI's assessment to look at the extent of reported incidents of sexual violence, services being provided, identify gaps and make recommendations for the UK Government. Part of the assessment will be a deep dive on investigation and documentation of sexual violence.

2nd Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken at the UN Security Council regarding the Rohingya people.

The British Government played a central role in the Presidential Statement on Rakhine agreed by the UN Security Council (UNSC) ​​on 6 November. The Statement calls, among other things, for the safe return of the Rohingya refugees to Rakhine, a transparent investigation of human rights violations, including those of sexual violence, as well as cooperation of the Government of Burma with UN organisations and access for humanitarian and media organisations to Rakhine. The Statement also calls on the Government of Burma to address the root causes of the conflict, including through the implementation of the Rakhine Advisory Commission recommendations.​

This comes as a result of several weeks of British Government activity at the UN Security Council. We have raised Burma four times since 25 August. On 13 September we secured the first agreed UNSC press statement on Burma in eight years. On 28 September we instigated the first open session of the Security Council on Burma in almost a decade. The Security Council then discussed Burma on 13 October. We will continue to work to ensure continuing P5 unity on the gravity of the situation in Burma.

2nd Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Burma regarding current events in Rakhine state.

In recent weeks, the British Government has made a number of representations to the Burmese government. We continue to make clear the need to end all violence in Rakhine, including sexual violence, to ensure the safe return of refugees, to allow humanitarian assistance to all communities in Rakhine, to enable access for the UN Fact-Finding Mission and to implement the recommendations of Kofi Annan's Rakhine Advisory Commission. The Foreign Secretary raised these issues directly with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi when he spoke to her on 7 and 14 September and on 21 October.

The Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific met Burma's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 20 September in New York and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on 27 September in Burma, and reiterated the same messages. Minister Field also raised our deep concern about the situation in Rakhine with the Burmese Ambassador when they met on 31 October.

Our Ambassador in Rangoon has also made a number of representations, most recently with the Burmese Defence Minister whom he met on 1 November.

16th Nov 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value of UK (1) imports, and (2) exports, of (a) fur, and (b) articles with fur, for each year since 2015.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are responsible for the collection and publication of data on UK imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC release this information monthly, as a National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics.

The value of imports to and exports from the UK of raw, tanned or dressed furskins (including heads, tails, paws and other pieces or cuttings, suitable for furriers’ use) and of articles of apparel, clothing accessories and other articles of furskin for each year since 2015 are set out in the tables below.

The data provided does not include raw hides and skins of animals which may have hair or wool on them or articles of clothing such as gloves, shoes, hats and coats which are only partially made of fur, for example, containing a fur trim. This is because these goods are declared under commodity codes other than those used exclusively for furskin and articles of furskin.

UK imports of furskins entered to commodity codes 4301and 4302 by value

Calendar Year

Trade Value (£)

2015

15,750,831

2016

11,197,018

2017

16,766,686

2018

12,487,217

2019

8,735,686

2020

3,076,690

Data source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics

UK exports of furskins entered to commodity codes 4301 and 4302 by value

Calendar Year

Trade Value (£)

2015

15,882,300

2016

11,676,202

2017

13,199,921

2018

11,444,471

2019

7,549,209

2020

1,797,965

Data source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics

UK imports of articles of furskin entered to commodity codes 4303 by value

Calendar Year

Trade Value (£)

2015

32,833,445

2016

37,279,317

2017

46,173,860

2018

51,813,338

2019

44,174,922

2020

14,428,427

Data source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics

UK exports of articles of furskin entered to commodity codes 4303 by value

Calendar Year

Trade Value (£)

2015

16,991,168

2016

16,697,024

2017

19,735,603

2018

24,825,923

2019

25,163,877

2020

10,556,697

Data source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics

Notes:
1. Data is extracted on a general trade basis for 2015 and for January to April of 2016. For all other periods the data is extracted on a special trade basis.
[1]

2. Data extracted for 2020 is only available for months January to September as per the publishing calendar.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/overseas-trade-statistics-methodologies