§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparations his Department is making for Earth summit II and for the preparatory conferences leading up to the summit. [18498]
§ Dr. Liam FoxThis Department will play its full part, with other Government Departments, at the intersessional meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development being held in New York between 24 February and 7 March, at the fifth meeting of the CSD in New York between 7 and 25 April, and at the UN General Assembly special session in New York between 23 and 27 June. The UK aim is to ensure a successful review of progress since Rio and the setting of priorities for the years ahead. FCO officials from both the diplomatic and aid wings will form part of the UK delegations to these meetings. Our missions overseas, including the UK missions to the UN, will continue to promote UK objectives and priorities for sustainable development. The aid wing has also provided some financial support to help non-governmental organisations in developing countries to prepare for and attend these meetings.