§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the Government are doing through their various agencies to combat global warming; and what is the total sum spent on this in the current year.
§ Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action his Department is taking, through its various agencies, to combat global warming; and what is the total to be spent on this in the current year.
§ Mr. TrippierAmong many initiatives, the Government actively support the work of the inter-governmental panel on climate change and are leading efforts to gain support for an international framework convention on climate change. We have also taken the lead in international initiatives to phase out the production and consumption of CFCs which are important greenhouse gases. We have amended the Building Regulations to improve the energy efficiency of new houses and announced the establishment of a new centre for the prediction of climate change. In 1990–91 my Department expects to spend over £6 million on climate change-related research and we are contributing £750,000 to the work of the inter-governmental panel on climate change. Other Departments also have important programmes on global warming, for example, the Overseas Development Administration's support for projects to conserve the tropical forests and the research funded by the Department of Education and Science through the research councils.