85 and 86. Mr. Brian Harrisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what proposals Great Britain's representatives on the South-West Pacific Commission have made about dealing with the devastation being caused by the acanthaster planci in the Pacific; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what provision he proposes to make to protect the inhabitants of the atolls and islands in the Pacific which are Her Majesty's Government's responsibility in the event of the acanthaster planci killing the coral reefs which protect them.
§ Mr. FoleyI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State to a 199W Question by the hon. Member for Richmond, Surrey (Mr. A. Royle) on 27th November. I will communicate further with the hon. Member when I have received the information for which we have asked.
When I have received this information I will certainly consider approaching the South Pacific Commission as the hon. Member has suggested.—[Vol. 792, c. 132.]