§ 17. Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to her oral answer of 12 May 1999,Official Report, column 303, concerning the organisations which will pay for clearing up the Danube, what discussions she has had with (a) the European Commission, (b) EU member states, (c) the International Monetary Fund, (d) the World Bank and (e) regional banks on this matter. [85991]
§ Clare ShortWe are working closely with the European Commission, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other EU member states to determine the reconstruction needs in the region, which will include environmental matters. We expect the costs for this to be assumed by the IFIs, EU and other donors, together with the countries of the region.
I met yesterday with Klaus Töpfer the Head of United Nations Environment Programme which is taking lead responsibility for urgently reviewing the environmental conditions of the condition of the Danube. He informed me that claims of large scale oil pollution were not substantiated.
§ 24. Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to assist in the environmental clearing-up in Kosovo and the surrounding region after the end of hostilities. [85998]
§ Clare ShortI met yesterday with Klaus Töpfer Head of Environment Programme which is the lead UN agency responsible for the environment. He is taking urgent steps to review and report on the environmental consequences of the conflict in Kosovo and Serbia.