World Bank Forest Policy

HC Deb 09 May 1991 vol 190 cc568-70W

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he is supporting to ensure more local participation in preparation, appraisal and implementation of World bank forest projects.

Mrs. Chalker

It is already World bank practice to consult widely on all of their projects, including those in the forestry sector. The bank welcomes and encourages discussion with local interest groups and nongovernmental organisations on aspects of project preparation, appraisal and implementation. As part of its wider forest policy review the bank is looking again at its practice. The British Government support these efforts to strengthen local participation.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to press for a World bank forest policy that clearly states that the bank will no longer lend to projects which degrade or destroy tropical forests.

Mrs. Chalker

A major objective of the world bank's new forest policy will be to help ensure that tropical forests are managed on a sustainable basis. The British Government fully support that principle and has so informed bank management.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the timetable for approval and adoption of the revised World bank forest policy; and what assessment he has undertaken of whether the new policy will affect proposed World bank loans already under consideration.

Mrs. Chalker

World bank executive directors, management and staff are scheduled to discuss forest policy in a seminar on 31 May. Depending on the outcome of this discussion, the present intention is for management to seek formal board approval of the new policy by the end of June. No forestry sector loans currently under consideration will come to the board before the policy is finalised.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many proposed World bank loans that include plans for use of forested land, reafforestation, or the timber industry, are currently in the process of being approved.

Mrs. Chalker

None.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evaluation he has made of the implementation by the International Tropical Timber Organisation of its guidelines on sustainable management of tropical forests; and what recommendation Her Majesty's Government are making on how the World bank could implement the International Tropical Timber Organisation's guidelines.

Mrs. Chalker

Progress with implementation of ITTO guidelines on sustainable management of tropical forests will be discussed at the ITTO council meeting in Quito from 27 May to 6 June. The ITTO is organising a conference of foresters in Yokohama in July to promote further the guidelines. The ODA has made it clear to the authors of the World bank's forest policy that the bank should incorporate the guidelines into its overall strategy.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom's executive director at the World bank will be putting forward the concerns expressed by United Kingdom non-governmental organisations to Her Majesty's Government concerning World bank forest policy.

Mrs. Chalker

In discussing the new forest policy with World bank officials, the United Kingdom executive director and his staff have drawn extensively on material and comments prepared by British non-governmental organisations. International and developing country NGOs had an opportunity to discuss the new policy directly with bank staff on 23 and 24 April in Washington.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what way existing Overseas Development Agency policy on support for forestry differs from the draft World bank forest policy currently under discussion.

Mrs. Chalker

The World bank draft policy paper has been revised four times since early March. Work on this will not be complete until the summer. Until it is, the Government are in no position to say how, if at all, respective policies will differ.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the recruitment, by the World bank, of a substantial number of staff with experience of community participation in forestry, and support substantial training programmes for other World bank operational staff in practical implementation of forestry policy.

Mrs. Chalker

The United Kingdom executive director has already stressed the need for the World bank to develop an appropriate range of skills to support implementation of the new forest policy. The bank must decide on the mix of new recruitment and internal training required to fulfil this obligation.