§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken as a result of the acceptance of the FAO tropical forest action plan; what was the response from the president of the World Bank to representations stressing Her Majesty's Government's belief in the importance of environmental factors in respect of other aid programmes; and what discussions he has had with fellow donors on means of donor co-ordination in protecting rain forests in Amazonia.
§ Mr. EggarUnder the tropical forestry action plan more than 50 developing countries have asked for help over the formulation and co-ordination of their national forestry policies. The plan has already led to seven forestry sector reviews being completed, and another 36 are under way.
The World Bank shares our view that the environmental aspects of development must be properly taken into account.
My hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has not had any formal discussions with other donors specifically about protecting the Amazon rain forests; but when I visited Brazil last year I made clear to the Brazilian President the concern felt in Britain about the environmental effects of deforestation in the Amazon and that season's disastrous fires. As signatories of the international tropical timber agreement, the United Kingdom and Brazil and other donor and developing countries are pledged to encourage the development of international policies aimed at the sustainable use and conservation of tropical forests.