HC Deb 26 October 1977 vol 936 cc843-4W
Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom contribution to the work of the United Nations Committee on Natural Resources, the numbers and status of United Kingdom representatives on that Committee and on any proposals or recommendations agreed so far by that Committee.

Mr. Luard:

The United Kingdom has both an interest in the optimum use of natural resources and experience to share in this field. We therefore play a positive part in the proceedings of the committee's regular biennal meetings and provide technical expertise for the topics under discussion. These cover the divergent fields of water, minerals and energy, The last meeting of the Committee was attended by a member of the United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations in Geneva and by a mineral specialist.

The most important initiative of the Committee has been to prepare the United Nations Water Conference which took place successfully in Argentina in March this year.