§ Mr. StunellTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if she will press for the Convention on Biological Diversity to safeguard intellectual property rights pending completion of the WTO agreement on trade-related intellectual property rights in 1999; [319891
(2) what assessment she has made of the implications for biodiversity of the current Uruguay Round measures on agriculture and trade-related intellectual property rights; and if she will press for the Fourth Conference of the Parties on Biological Diversity to make a full evaluation of this matter. [31986]
§ Mr. BattleI have been asked to reply.
In its provisions on technology transfer, the Convention on Biological Diversity specifically acknowledges the need for adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights. The Convention also calls on parties to co-operate in ensuring that such rights are supportive of and do not run counter to the objectives of the Convention. My Department will continue to work in close collaboration with other departments to ensure that the United Kingdom plays an active and positive role in addressing the issues at the forthcoming Fourth Conference of Parties to the Convention as well as in other international negotiations.