§ 2.40 p.m.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:—
To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the conclusions of the meeting in Nairobi of the governing council of the United Nations Environment Programme and what contribution the British representative made to the decisions.
§ Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTONMy Lords, the main purpose of the meeting was to consider detailed proposals concerning the work of the United Nations Environment Programme in the coming year. In addition, a number of decisions were adopted. I will arrange 1513 for the full record to be placed in the Library when it becomes available. The United Kingdom delegation played an active role in the meeting and sponsored resolutions on the World Conservation Strategy and, together with other members of the European Community, on chlorofluorocarbons.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply and for arranging for the document to be placed in the Library, may I ask specifically whether the Government support the draft of an international strategy for reconciling economic and environmental concerns In particular, could the noble Lord answer three points? Do the Government support action to stop desert encroachment? Some 6 million hectares of desert encroach every year. Do the Government support a world plan for the wise use of forests? Between 5 million and 10 million hectares of forest are lost each year. Thirdly, do the Government support a plan to save the 1,000 animal and 25,000 plant species which are threatened with destruction?
§ Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTONMy Lords, the noble Lord, as usual, has given me a blockbuster to answer. We certainly support all environmental matters which are important to mankind and, where the economics of the situation coincide, we try to help as best we can. The three specific questions that the noble Lord asked are very difficult to answer. We regard this environmental programme as having a catalytic effect. We aim to help this United Nations body and we assist it considerably. The noble Lord may remember that I answered a Question on forests about three weeks ago. We obviously draw the attention of our scientific advisers to this matter and advise the United Nations' agencies and other bodies interested. The noble Lord, Lord Brockway, would be the first person to say that we had no right to interfere with a sovereign nation's rights to manage its own natural resources. This comes into the matter a little. Regarding the 1,000 animals and 25,000 plants, I do not know specifically to what the noble Lord refers, but in principle we obviously would deplore such unfortunate happenings.