§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to co-ordinate Local Agenda 21 plans for sustainable development; and if he will make a statement. [6599]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 7 July 1997]: In his recent speech to the UN General Assembly Special Session on the environment my Right hon. Friend the Prime Minister paid tribute to the good record of United Kingdom local authorities on Local Agenda 21 and said that he wanted all authorities to adopt Local Agenda 21 strategies by the year 2000.
The Government will be working closely with the local authority associations and the Local Government Management Board to encourage local authorities to meet this target. In doing so, we will take care not to take on a "co-ordinating" role because the strength of Local Agenda 21 derives from the ability of local authorities, community groups, businesses and others to work co-operatively for sustainable development in the light of local and regional needs.