HC Deb 27 January 1997 vol 289 c16W
25. Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent measures he has taken to help countries counter desertification. [11140]

Dr. Liam Fox

The United Kingdom has currently committed this financial year about £57 million in bilateral assistance for projects relevant to desertification. The United Kingdom ratified the UN desertification convention on 18 October 1996 and continues to play a leading role in negotiations to finalise financial and institutional arrangements for implementation of the convention.