§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the matters addressed and agreed at the conference on climate change held in London on 7 May.
§ Mr. MacleanThe conference's focus was how the United Kingdom should meet its commitment of returning CO2emissions to 1990 levels by 2000.My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State was pleased that many participants at the conference welcomed the open consultative process adopted, which encouraged the partnership approach that is the key to developing a cost-effective CO2programme, and were keen to consider what they could contribute. In his speech to the conference, he accepted the argument put by many of those who have taken part in the consultations that only Governments could provide the basic legislative and fiscal framework for our programme, within which others could act.
A report of the conference will be published next month and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.