§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she proposes to276W take to strengthen the roles of (a) the UN Commission on Human Settlements and (b) the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements. [40153]
§ Clare ShortThe 17th Session of the Commission will be held in April/May 1999. Our aim at that meeting will be to agree realistic priorities for the work of the Centre for Human Settlements that will help meet international poverty eradication target. Our specific objectives for the session will be discussed with interested parties in the UK. I discussed the work of the UN Centre for Human Settlements with the new UN Under Secretary-General responsible, Klaus Töpfer, earlier this year. The Government support his intention to focus the Centre's work more tightly in order to provide effective help to developing countries in tackling poverty in urban areas.
My Department is providing £300,000 of programme support to the Centre in 1998–99, and continuing our voluntary contributions to the Habitat Foundation. We also intend to provide new institutional strengthening capacity for Dr. Töpfer to carry out his reforms.