§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will(a) endorse and (b) financially support the global plan of action on plant genetic resources to be discussed at the Food and Agriculture Organisation's fourth international technical conference at Leipzig; and if he will make a statement. [33351]
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§ Mr. BoswellThe global plan of action was unanimously adopted last week by the FAO fourth international technical conference, at which the UK was represented by officials from my Department and the Overseas Development Administration. The UK supports the global plan of action as a useful framework on which to base future action, and will play a full and active part in its implementation and follow up processes.
Through the ODA, the UK already provides significant resources for many of the areas identified in the global plan.
§ Mr. JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he plans to(a) increase and (b) stabilise and maintain the variety of plant genetic material used within agricultural systems in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) the European Community and (iii) other countries; and if he will make a statement. [33353]
§ Mr. BoswellThe Government are well aware of the need to maintain diversity of plant genetic resources for future food security, and are already taking active steps to ensure the conservation and future sustainable use of such resources, both nationally and internationally through the implementation of the principles enshrined in the convention on biological diversity, through the reform of the common agricultural policy, and through the development of the FAO global system for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The Government will continue to support the principles of sustainable development in line with their strategy for sustainable development, which was published in 1994.