§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the UN Habitat II conference in Istanbul. [33450]
§ Mr. GummerThe United Kingdom played an active and positive role at the United Nations conference on human settlements. I led the UK delegation and also played an active part as a member of the UN Secretary-General's international advisory group for the conference. A new basis for policy was established, in which urban areas are seen not as a threat to the environment but as the environment for an increasing majority of people.
The United Kingdom report prepared for the conference was very well received. It served as a sound basis for our contribution to the negotiation of the habitat agenda, which is the main output of the conference. This sets out a comprehensive framework which can be used by all those who are responsible for achieving the two objectives considered by the conference—adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development. It also reaffirms the right to housing. We also contributed to the drafting of the "Istanbul declaration", the statement of
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Applicant File ref. Project title Decision Date Grant Approved Cumbria Tourist Board EUR/611/503/1/NW Tourist Market Forecast F 13 May 1996 20,000.00 North Pennine Heritage Trust EUR/557/501/1/NW Rampgill Visitor Centre F 13 February1996 78,745,00 Carlisle College EUR/606/501/1/NW Rural Flexitech F 1 May 1996 8,098,00 Voluntary Action Cumbria EUR/586/501/1/NW Rural Resource Centre F 25 October 1995 32,809,00 Alston Town Hall Trustees NW3878EUR Alston Town Hall Multi Purpose Centre, Project Co-ordinator F 21 May 1996 4,545.50 Voluntary Action Cumbria NW39125EUR Rural Comm Support Obj 5B Area Cumbria F 29 January 1996 104,604.00 Kendal College EUR/631/501/2/NW Encouragement of Enterprise to Develop Existing SME's F 11,594.00 Carlisle College EUR/606/501/2/NW Vocational Training & Upskilling in Key Skills req. by SME's F 35,028.00 Newton Rigg College EUR/556/510/2/NW Upskilling Supervisors in the Food Business F 6,242.00 Newton Rigg College EUR/556/511/2/NW Training and Assessment Skills for Small Businesses F 1,530.00 Cumbria TEC EUR/518/507/2/NW Appleby Training Centre F 12,626.00 Cumbria TEC EUR/518/506/2/NW Graduate/Redundant Manager Placement Scheme F 16,830.00 Cumbria TEC EUR/518/503/2/NW Rural Business Skills Training F 11,857.00 Cumbria TEC EUR/518/502/2/NW Improving Competitiveness of SME's through Training F 17,046.00 Cumbria TEC EUR/518/501/2/NW Rural Self-Employment Start-Up/scheme F 14,994.00 TEED EUR/73/506/2/NW Cumbria TEC—Business Start-up F 14,647.00 TEED EUR/73/505/2/NW Cumbria TEC—Construction Training F 52,008.00 TEED EUR/73/503/2/NW Cumbria TEC—Business Administration Training F 6,174.00 political will to implement the habitat agenda, that underlines the need for a partnership approach and support for local action.
This was the first major UN conference where local authorities, UK representatives prominent among them, played a key role. In the UK, the conference consolidated a constituency of Government, local authorities and nongovernmental organisations interested in formulating sustainable human settlements policies. The local agenda 21 process, will be the primary vehicle for Habitat II follow-up. The Government's round table and panel on sustainable development will also have an important robe.
I have placed a copy of my speech in the Library of the House.