§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the planned expenditure for 1996–97 on international biodiversity is devoted to(a) the administrative costs of the biodiversity convention secretariat and (b) contributions to developing countries for the implementation of their biodiversity action plans. [24699]
§ Mr. ClappisonIn 1996–97, £433,000 has been allocated to the administrative costs of the biodiversity convention secretariat. In addition, the Government have set aside £167,000 principally to contribute towards the travelling costs of developing countries attending the convention meetings. Funding developing countries to produce biodiversity action plans is one of the priorities for the convention's interim financial mechanism, the global environment facility, to which the United Kingdom has committed some £130 million. National biodiversity projects are also funded under the bilateral aid programme.
601WAlready this financial year, more than £0.6 million has been committed in addition to over £30 million in 1995–96. The Darwin initiative has so far funded over 110 projects costing £12 million to help almost 60 countries towards meeting their obligations under the biodiversity convention.