§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to use the overseas aid programme to help the Government of India solve their environmental problems.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIn India earlier this month I offered £50 million new aid for energy efficiency projects which, by promoting the more cost-effective generation, distribution and use of power, will reduce environmentally damaging emissions. This offer reflects the high priority I attach to using our aid programme to assist India to tackle its environmental problems which can have both national and global implications. The new aid is in addition to £40 million offered, last year, for environmental projects, in particular for forestry and to develop alternatives to the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). A British aid funded study of the latter will be ready for the meeting in London in June of the parties to the Montreal protocol. Good progress is also being made with the development of a major new project for the conservation of the forests of the Western Ghats.