§ 44. Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implementation of the principles outlined in "Agenda 21" relating to world population growth.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd"Agenda 21" emphasises the importance of measures to strengthen family planning services and of further research into the links betweeen population and environment at global and local levels.
§ Mr. RobathanAs my hon. Friend has said, during the British presidency of the EC we intend to propose a 20 resolution to the development council in November. In March, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister wrote that he wishes to encourage European consensus on population programmes and to urge greater support from European donor agencies. What detailed progress has been made in dealing with this matter and the resolution at the development council meeting?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe are working at a diplomatic and official level. The fruits of that work will appear at the development council in the autumn. As my hon. Friend will be aware, we have given great priority to this matter domestically; our "children by choice not chance" initiative was launched only last year.