§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
356Wwhat help he is giving to countries in Asia facing environmental degradation resulting from the increasing use of chemicals to raise productivity, and reduce crop losses.
§ Mr. WoodOur assistance to Asian countries in the struggle against the pollution of the environment includes research in the use of chemical pesticides in tropical agriculture; the introduction of biological control campaigns to reduce the use of pesticides; studies of the environmental effects of pollution on soil, water, and forests; and advice, project assistance and training in the development of safe and economic pest control systems and in the detection and measurement of toxic residues in foodstuffs and other natural products.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what study he is making of the problem of developing countries, trying to develop technologies suitable to their own conditions, borrowing technologies from developed countries that could contribute to local pollution.
§ Mr. WoodNo comprehensive study of the very wide range of problems referred to by the hon. Member is being undertaken by my Department, but I take the aspect of environmental pollution fully into account in all projects included in our programme of capital aid. We are also taking steps under our programmes of technical assistance to help developing countries to deal effectively with industrial pollution.