§ Mr. StunellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government plan to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. [31987]
§ Angela EagleIt is the Government's intention that the UK should sign the Kyoto Protocol at an early date, subject to discussion with our EU colleagues to maximise the participation of Member States and the Community in signing the Protocol at the same time. Thereafter, the Government are keen that the Protocol should be brought into force at an early stage. However before ratification satisfactory progress on a number of outstanding issues is necessary, particularly with regard to the operation of flexible mechanisms such as emissions trading, joint implementation and the clean development mechanism.