§ Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make it his policy to put forward proposals for the promotion of hand tools as part of a strategy for appropriate technological support to the United Nations conference on environment and develop-ment to be held in June 1992;
(2) what preparations have been made by his Department to make an input on business, trade and technology issues for the United Nations conference on environment and development in June 1992.
§ Mr. LilleyI draw the hon. Member's attention to the report "Global Climate Change: the Role of Technology Transfer" which was prepared for UNCED by Touche Ross and funded jointly by my Department and the Overseas Development Administration. A copy is available in the Library of the House.
This report aimed to offer a constructive contribution to UNCED's discussions on technology transfer in the context of climate change. I am pleased to say it has been well received by delegates to the preparatory meetings for UNCED and has helped focus on this subject in a positive way.
120WOne of the findings of the report emphasises the importance of appropriate technologies reflecting the different technological needs, abilities and circumstances of developing countries.
Officials in my Department have also established contact with the Business Council for Sustainable Development—BCSD—the body set up by Mr. Maurice Strong, secretary-general to UNCED, to provide the business input to UNCED. Links have also been established between BCSD and the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment set up by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment, and myself.