§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for a member of his Department to visit the Maraca project, Brazil.
§ Mr. Chris PattenI refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council gave him on 18 April, at column183. We are in discussion with the Brazilian authorities on what further assistance may be given for rain forest work in Brazil. If a visit by an Overseas Development Administration team is agreed it will present an opportunity for the team leader to visit the Maraca project.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Patten), the Minister for Overseas Development, has to pay a visit to Brazil.
§ Mr. Chris PattenDependent on other commitments, I hope to visit Brazil later this year.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for the forest regeneration team to return for two months to Maraca ecological reserve, Brazil.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe forest regeneration team are returning to Maraca for two months under the project work plan funded by the Overseas Development Administration as soon as their visas have been authorised.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds Her Majesty's Government are providing to study the Alexa tree at the western end of Maraca, Brazil, for its potential in providing the plant alkaloid castanospermine; and what interim results are available from the clinical tests at St. Mary's hospital, London, with a view to providing a treatment for certain forms of the disease AIDS.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe Overseas Development Administration support for research in the Maraca forests has been concerned with their management and 369W regeneration and not specifically with the Alexa tree. However we are aware of the great potential importance of the Alexa species for biochemical extractives. If the Brazilian authorities request support for collaborative research on the Alexa tree this will be considered sympathetically and could be looked at during the proposed ODA team visit to Brazil.
I understand laboratory studies involving synthetic castanospermine are in progress but I have no knowledge of clinical trials at St. Mary's hospital, London. The hon. Member may wish to approach the medical authorities about this.
Gross bilateral aid to central America 1979—1987 in current prices £ thousands 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Costa Rica 623 606 570 486 1,838 1,666 12,685 10,038 2,584 El Salvador 448 265 41 13 0 205 103 239 411 Guatemala 14 35 15 4 0 0 0 10 1 Honduras 230 335 5,002 2,272 6,670 3,446 3,653 1,258 811 Mexico 1,186 1,577 1,464 34,334 2,827 517 773 803 630 Nicaragua 246 127 91 49 64 9 116 86 0 Panama 63 94 102 62 43 49 67 70 72 Total 2,810 3,039 7,285 37,220 11,442 5,892 17,397 12,504 4,509
Gross bilateral aid to central America 1979—1987 in constant 1987 prices 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Costa Rica 1,127 916 773 613 2,204 1,909 13,751 10,513 2,584 El Salvador 811 401 56 16 0 235 112 250 411 Guatemala 25 53 20 5 0 0 0 10 1 Honduras 416 506 6,786 2,864 7,998 3,949 3,960 1,318 811 Mexico 2,146 2,384 1,986 43,277 3,390 592 838 841 630 Nicaragua 445 192 123 62 77 10 126 90 0 Panama 114 142 138 78 52 56 73 73 72 Total 5,085 4,595 9,884 46,915 13,720 6,752 18,858 13,096 4,509