§ Mr. BowisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to respond to the report by the House of Commons Environment Committee on the climatological and environment effects of rain forest destruction; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierI have today laid before the House the Government's response to this report. I welcome the conclusions of the Committee's constructive report. which endorse the Government's approach to helping developing countries conserve their tropical forests. The report makes a well-informed contribution to the debate on rainforest protection. The Government, in line with the Committee's recommendations, are working with the Governments and peoples of the tropical countries in their efforts to conserve the forests and we are implementing a major increase in assistance to the forest sector in the developing countries.