HC Deb 07 July 1992 vol 211 c115W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 24 June,Official Report, columns 200–1, if he is now able to say what funding for the Darwin initiative will be; if he will make a statement on his plans to set up the initiative; how it will relate to the United States biodiversity project based in New York; what further action he plans to conserve biological diversity; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton

I have been asked to reply.

We are asking interested parties to come forward with ideas on how best to develop a framework for the Darwin initiative and to set priorities for action. We will consider the appropriate level of funding once we have decided those priorities. The Darwin initiative is based on United Kingdom expertise in the field of biodiversity, but we will be looking at action which other countries are taking.

In addition to launching this initiative I have also written to my EC and G7 colleagues urging them to take follow-up action to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, including taking forward the convention on biodiversity.