§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the United Kingdom Government's main objectives at the second meeting of the conference of the parties to the convention of biological diversity. [40347]
§ Mr. Clappison:The second meeting of the conference of the parties to the convention on biological diversity takes place in Jakarta from 6 to 17 November 1995. The UK's main objective for the meeting is to ensure that sensible decisions are taken to implement the convention, which are based on sound scientific and financial considerations. These considerations will be particularly important with regard to:
- encouraging Parties to take forward action to implement the Convention through national strategies;
- the decision about the need to for a biosafety protocol. The UK believes such an instrument is needed with regard to the transfer of living modified organisms between countries;
- the issue of voting provisions on financial issues, where the UK will emphasise the need for decisions to be taken by consensus; and
- the establishment of a "clearing house mechanism". The UK will be pressing for the mechanism to be cost-effective, decentralised data network providing information exchange services.