§ Mr. HealeyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the protection of(a) the environment and (b) indigenous tribes in areas of the world vulnerable to mineral exploitation; and if she will make a statement. [6244]
§ Clare ShortThe Department for International Development (DFID) is committed to the sustainable eradication of poverty. Protection of the environment is an essential requirement for this. All bilateral DFID projects are appraised to ensure they take full account of environmental issues and many directly contribute to environmental protection. In 1995–96, expenditure on projects which contributed to conserving the environment as an objective totalled £196 million.
DFID seeks to ensure that, through their enhanced participation, indigenous people and ethnic minorities benefit from those projects and programmes, including mineral projects, which affect them and that any adverse effects upon them are minimised.
DFID also seeks to ensure that multilateral organisations such as the EC and the World Bank pursue development policies consistent with our own objectives.