HC Deb 28 November 1995 vol 267 cc559-60W
Mr. Mathew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the next report from the intergovernmental panel on climate change has been sent to his Department for comment; what is the timetable for its publication; and if he will make a statement. [1814]

Mr. Clappison

The reports of the three working groups of the intergovernmental panel on climate change were sent to my Department for comment following extensive scientific peer review. Comments were sought from other Departments and, where appropriate, external experts. Comments were provided on early drafts and as input to discussion at plenary sessions of the working groups.

The summary reports of working groups II and III of IPCC were approved last month in Montreal and the working group I report will be addressed at a meeting on 27 to 29 November in Madrid. All three summaries and the underlying reports are due to be accepted formally by the IPCC at its plenary session in Rome in December. An overall synthesis report will also be considered for approval in Rome.

Final published forms of the full reports should be available in spring 1996.