HC Deb 23 June 1994 vol 245 c269W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what environmental conditions are attached by the European Union or any of its specialist agencies in assistance given to Brazil for the development of the Greater Carajas project; and whether those conditions have been fulfilled to date.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

EC assistance to the Greater Carajas project has been limited to a European Coal and Steel Community loan, since repaid, of 257 million ecu—£201 million—in 1982. This loan covered approximately 7 per cent. of the project's cost. There were no environmental conditions attached to the ECSC loan. The Carajas region is expected to benefit from environmental monitoring and protection measures under the pilot programme to conserve the Brazilian tropical rainforest which is being supported by the EC, the United Kingdom and other donors.

The Carajas project was discussed by the EC Development Council in November 1989. These and other discussions contributed to an EC resolution on Environment and Development that was adopted in 1992. The terms of that resolution are reflected in the legal framework for all EC aid to Latin America and in the 1992 co-operation agreement with Brazil.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he is making in the World bank negotiations with Brazil that any assistance to Brazil should be conditional upon the fulfilling of promises about the demarcation of land in the Amazon rain forest for indigenous peoples;

(2) whether the Brazilian Government have fulfilled the conditions regarding the demarcation of indigenous areas of first their World bank loan in 1982 which assisted with the development of Carajas projects.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The United Kingdom is not a party to negotiations between the World bank and Brazil on proposed lending. Bank staff are satisfied that all the conditions of the 1982 loan have been fully met.

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