§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution was made by Her Majesty's Government to the second United Nations conference on the least-developed countries held in Paris on 3 to 14 September; what communications were developed with non-governmental organisations in attendance; whether a copy of the booklet, "The LDCs in the 1990s: Development or Oblivion", on the nongovernmental organisations' views on the new programme 359W of action was provided to the United Kingdom delegation; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's relations with the least-developed countries.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe Government welcome the outcome of the second United Nations conference on the least developed held in Paris from 3.14 September and will support those least-developed countries which implement the policies outlined in the programme of action.
The British delegation to the conference was led by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The delegation played an active and positive role in the negotiations for the programme of action for the 1990s adopted by the conference. Two new British initiatives relating to aid tying and local costs rules, which will be of direct benefit to the least-developed countries, were announced at the conference. The delegation kept in close contact with British nongovernmental organisations, both before and during the conference. The booklet "The LDCs in the 1990s: Development or Oblivion" was also taken into account in formulating the United Kingdom position on the various issues.