§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Pacific, African and south American rain forest holocaust is taken account of in the Community forestry programme.
§ Mr. RyderOne of the main aims of the proposed forestry action programme is to reduce the Community's dependence on timber imports, thus making some contribution to the range of measures that will be needed to protect the tropical rain forests.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on which sources he relies for evidence on the absence of a link between the north American drought and the longer-term effects of botanical holocaust in the rain forests in central and south America.
§ Mr. RyderIn conversation with scientists, I have gained the impression that there is no proof of a link between the north American drought this year and removal of the rain forests in central and south America. I cannot disprove the hypothesis of a link but nor am I aware that supporters of the hypothesis can prove that there is such a link.