§ Mr. DafisTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what contribution he has requested university history departments to make to the United Kingdom national strategy for global environmental research. [32781]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorNo contribution has been requested specifically from university history departments. Contributions were requested through an open consultation exercise before the strategy was drafted. An open consultation meeting was subsequently held to consider the draft in March. This was attended by about 240 people from academia, industry and commerce, representative bodies, non-governmental organisations and Government Departments and agencies. Around half were academics from various disciplines. A further 100 people who were unable to attend requested sight of the report and had an opportunity to comment.
The UK national strategy for global environment research is due to be launched at a one-day conference at the British Association for the Advancement of Science annual festival of science in September 1996.