§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department has taken to promote good town planning in the cities of the third world. [64400]
§ Clare ShortWe view good town planning practice as an essential component in the better management of cities. This is in line with the internationally agreed development goals contained in the Habitat Agenda which resulted from the Habitat II conference at Istanbul in 1996. The Department provides funding support to help the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, Habitat, take forward this Agenda.
Direct support is also given to the global United Nations Urban Management Programme and Urban Indicators Programme. The Department works closely with countries which implement these approaches to improved urban environments and has supported programmes which include good town planning practice in India and China.