§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has decided not to attend the ministerial follow-up to the Brundtland report in Bergen.
§ Mr. Trippier[holding answer, 11 May 1990]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment regrets that he is unable to attend the Bergen conference. There is a limit to the number of international environmental conferences he can attend personally and on this occasion he decided it was necessary to remain at home to deal with domestic issues. The Government are strongly committed to the success of the Bergen conference. We have made a substantial contribution to the preparations for the conference and I shall be leading the British delegation next week.