HC Deb 31 January 2000 vol 343 c401W
Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy to support the inclusion of trade issues on the agenda of the Earth Summit 3 Conference in 2002; and if he will make a statement. [106866]

Mr. Meacher

The Earth Summit 3 Conference will be further considered at the meeting of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in April, including the agenda.

We will continue to use all appropriate opportunities that arise through bilateral contacts and our involvement in multilateral fora to pursue our dialogue with other countries, especially developing countries, on the relationship between trade and the environment. This issue will also be discussed at this year's meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development.

In addition, the United Kingdom will continue to press within the World Trade Organisation for the launch of a comprehensive Round of trade negotiations at the earliest possible opportunity, because we believe that a comprehensive Round offers the best means of delivering trade liberalisation in a manner consistent with the pursuit of global sustainable development and, in particular, delivering benefits for developing countries.