§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the United Kingdom's involvement in the Habitat II conference on sustainable communities; what are the implications of Habitat II for his Department's planning and housing policies; and if he will make a statement on his future objectives for Habitat II. [9951]
§ Mr. GummerThe United Kingdom is taking an active part in the preparations for the United Nations conference on human settlements. We, together with our EU partners, are contributing to the drafting of the "Habitat Agenda" which is to be the major output of the conference.
My Department is co-ordinating the preparation of the UK's national report for the conference. We are also working closely with a wide range of organisations—local government, non-governmental and professional—through the UK National Council for Habitat II.
In respect of the future objectives for Habitat II, my Department will promote internationally UK ideas, policies and best practice and use the conference to raise international and national awareness of the means to achieve sustainable development.
We will need to await the outcome of Habitat II before determining the implications for my Department's planning and housing policies.