§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with the United Nations on the continuing location of the UNEP in Nairobi; [73681]
(2) what reports he has received concerning the destruction of the Karura Forest in Kenya. [73766]
§ Mr. FatchettMy right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment is responsible for UNEP issues. He has participated in discussions with UNEP's Executive Director, Klaus Toepfer, on reform of UNEP, including the continuing location of UNEP in Nairobi. In his speech at the UNEP Governing Council on 4 February, he underlined the United Kingdom's continued high level of support for UNEP, including the strengthening of the UN presence in Nairobi.
We have received regular reports from our High Commission in Nairobi about the destruction of the Karura Forest in Kenya. As the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), said in his written reply of 24 February 1999, Official Report, column 322, we supported, as part of the Democratic Development Group of diplomatic missions in Nairobi, a collective statement expressing our deep concern over the violence last month at the Karura Forest.
Our High Commissioner regularly raises the need for greater transparency and respect for the law in the allocation of public lands in Kenya, including the Karura Forest, with President Moi and senior Government Ministers.