HC Deb 21 July 1999 vol 335 c553W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what follow-up action he has taken to the conclusions of the Conference on the Environment in the Dependent Territories, organised at the Zoo, Regents Park, on 29 and 30 June by his Department, in relation to(a) degradation of coral reefs and (b) mangrove swamps. [90729]

Mr. Hoon

[holding answer 20 July 1999]: I thank my hon. Friend for his valuable contributions to the recent conference, "A Breath of Fresh Air", about environmental issues in the UK's Overseas Territories. We are now establishing with Overseas Territories' governments the best ways to protect these key habitats, with support where appropriate from new funding announced in the March White Paper, "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity".

We are also publishing a report commissioned by the British Indian Ocean Territory Government on the problem of coral mortality in the Chagos Archipelago. We have commissioned an educational video for use in the Overseas Territories about key themes discussed at the conference, including coral reefs and mangrove swamps.

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