§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Disaster and Natural Resources Institute has received the recommendations of the Food and Agricultural Organisation's locust consultant in relation to Madagascar; and what action he is taking.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd[holding answer 20 October 1992]: The Natural Resources Institute has received the recommendations of the Food and Agricultural Organisation's locust consultant and has now passed these on to ODA's disaster unit for consideration. We have recently agreed to support a field trial of insect growth regulators—IGR—in collaboration with the FAO. The trial is expected to produce specific recommendations on the use of IGRs in controlling locust populations which can then be implemented within months. We are currently addressing the specific short-term recommendations of the FAO consultant and will make decisions on further United Kingdom support very shortly.