§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the next meeting of the intergovernmental negotiating committee for a convention to combat desertification is planned; when the draft resolution on desertification and regional instrument for Africa is expected to be finalised; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI have been asked to reply.
The next meeting of the intergovernmental negotiating committee—INC—will be in New York from 17 to 28 January 1994. The United Nations General Assembly has directed that the convention is to be completed by June 1994. The INC has agreed that a regional instrument for Africa will also be completed by that date.