HC Deb 12 March 1990 vol 169 cc19-20
67. Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies have been made by the Overseas Development Administration on additional development need occasioned by observed or likely climatic change.

Mrs. Chalker

As well as preparing a paper for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on financial measures to help developing countries, the ODA has commissioned a study on options for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries, and has helped to finance a study on the phasing out of CFCs in India.

Mr. Spearing

I thank the Minister for that reply. Can she tell us whether any of the studies have been commissioned from the Overseas Development Administration's natural resources institute, or whatever its modern name is, in Chatham? Does she agree that client-based research by that institute is unlikely to be so effective as basic research which it might otherwise conduct?

Mrs. Chalker

Parts of the Deprtment are engaged in getting expert advice from within and without the Department for the papers being written for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. We certainly have excellent advice coming from the Overseas Development Administration's natural resources institute, but much of what we gain on forestry and on atmospheric emissions comes from other worthwhile but outside institutions.

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