§ Mr. BoothTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about ratification by the United Kingdom of the climate change convention.
§ Mr. YeoThe United Kingdom's instrument of ratification will be deposited with the United Nations very shortly. This will fulfil our commitment to ratify the framework convention of climate change by the end of this year.
Following the Budget statement by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and in particular the commitment to future real terms increases in transport fuel duties, we now have in place all the elements to complete the United Kingdom's national programme under the convention. The programme, which includes measures aimed at returning United Kingdom emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2000, will be published early in the new year. Publication of this programme will put the United Kingdom at the forefront of global efforts to implement the convention, which was signed by the Prime Minister at the Earth summit in Rio last year.