§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in establishing a comprehensive pilot project for forest conservation in Brazil, as proposed at the Group of Seven Houston summit in July 1990.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe Government of Brazil have been preparing a project proposal in cooperation with the World bank and the European Community. Draft proposals are being discussed at a further meeting of the three parties in Brazil on 9 and 10 May.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Minister for Overseas Development, during her recent visit to Brazil, discussed Brazilian law No. 7.827 of 9 September 1990 creating the constitutional fund for financing the north, and the reactivation, on 17 December 1990, of the fund for investment in the Amazon with the Brazilian Government; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI discussed with Brazilian Ministers reports about the reactivation of schemes which earlier resulted in ranching and unnecessary deforestation in northern Brazil. I was assured that, although schemes to promote sustainable development in Amazonia were being reactivated, detailed arrangements had still to be worked out and care would be taken to ensure that the incentives would not result in needless deforestation or unsustainable logging.