§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the Government have made in the United Nations with regard to securing a coherent and sustainable long-term policy supported internationally to preserve rain forests in those countries where they are now under threat; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAt the United Nations conference on environment and development in June we played a leading role in getting agreement to a statement of principles on the sustainable management of the world's forests. This is the first international consensus on their value. We are working to ensure that it is followed up by an effective international review process. We are proposing in the United Nations General Assembly that this should be through the sustainable development commission.