HC Deb 22 June 1992 vol 210 cc56-7W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the future of the United Nations conference on trade and development following the decision to establish the new United Nations Sustainable Development Commission.

Mr. Needham

The Government welcome the agreement at the eighth UN conference on trade and development in Cartagena in February this year, that UNCTAD should be radically reformed so that it can carry out its role to help promote sustained and sustainable economic development more effectively.

If UNCTAD's reforms are to be effective, its work should not duplicate but should complement the activities of the new United Nations Sustainable Development Commission, once this body's role is agreed by the UN General Assembly meeting this autumn.