§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions who will represent his Department at the Biosafety Protocol meeting in Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [72229]
§ Mr. MeacherI am being represented by officials at the Biosafety Protocol meeting in Colombia. The only European Union Minister to attend, that I am aware of, is the German Health Minister, representing the EU Presidency.
The Protocol is being prepared by an Open Ended Ad Hoc Working Group which has met five times and is meeting now in Colombia to complete its work. The negotiating brief was agreed by ministers in detail beforehand and is being monitored by ministers throughout the negotiations to ensure it is strictly adhered to. An extraordinary Conference of the Parties will be held immediately afterwards for the adoption of the Protocol. There is to be no high level segment in Colombia and my official acting as Head of Delegation in Colombia will sign for the UK.
Assuming the Protocol is adopted, I shall sign it at the official ceremony in New York in three months' time.