§ Mr. SinghTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement regarding the United Kingdom's funding of the United Nations Environment Programme. [8758]
§ Mr. MeacherI attended the inaugural meeting of the United Nations Environment Programme's High-Level Committee of Ministers and Officials in New York on 28 June. I am glad to be able to report that this was a successful meeting. The Committee gave advice to UNEP's Executive Director on the main priorities for UNEP's Programme of Work. Given the positive outcome, especially on the way forward for UNEP, I announced at the close that the United Kingdom would, forthwith, lift the suspension of its annual voluntary contribution to the Environment Fund. I have, therefore, arranged for a payment of £4.35 million to be made as soon as possible to UNEP's Environment Fund.