§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will review United Kingdom financial and other support for Indonesia's transmigration programme in the light of its effect on the rain forests of Indonesia's outer isles and the indigenous people living there;
(2) how much has been contributed by Her Majesty's Government (a) directly or (b) through international institutions, to Indonesia's transmigration programme to date;
(3) what assessment his Department made of the environmental and cultural impact of Indonesia's transmigration programme on the rain forests of Indonesia's outer isles and the indigenous people living there.
§ Mr. RaisonThe Government do not give direct financial or other support through bilateral or multilateral channels to the Indonesian transmigration programme. The land resources development centre of the Overseas Development Administration has been retained by the World Bank to advise on the selection of sites and use of land within the programme, and has thus been able to help minimise adverse effects on the environment and the indigenous population. My Department has not made an 49W independent assessment of the impact of the programme, but information about it is widely available from other sources.
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the question of the impact of Indonesia's transmigration programme on the rain forests of Indonesia's outer isles and the indigenous people living there at the next meeting of the intergovernmental group on Indonesia in The Hague on 18 and 19 June; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RaisonThe intergovernmental group on Indonesia reviews Indonesia's economic prospects and external financial needs. Its meetings are not the right place for detailed discussion of particular projects.
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what environmental and cultural policy guidelines govern project lending by the World Bank and the intergovernmental group on Indonesia.
§ Mr. RaisonThe World Bank has published a number of documents on its approach to environmental matters. I shall sent the right hon. Member a copy of "Environmental Policies and Procedures of the World Bank" which summarises the principles behind bank guidelines and other related material.