HL Deb 23 January 1995 vol 560 cc70-2WA
Viscount St Davids

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the first meeting of the United Kingdom Round Table on Sustainable Development is to be held.

Viscount Ullswater

The inaugural meeting of the Round Table is being held today. Professor Sir Richard Southwood and my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be co-chairmen.

This is a major new body with a vital role in driving forward environmentally sustainable development. It will have the following objectives:

* to help identify the agenda and priorities for sustainable development;

* to develop new areas of consensus on difficult issues of sustainable development and, where this is not possible, to clarify and reduce difference;

* to provide advice and recommendations on actions to achieve sustainable development;

* to help evaluate progress towards objectives; and

* to inform and involve others, building wider support for emerging consensus.

A copy of my right honourable friend's letter of invitation to members has been placed in the House Libraries. A list of members will be placed in the Libraries today.