§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make an assessment of the total amount of carbon emissions that will be accounted for by the attendance of the British Government delegation at the earth summit in Johannesburg. [71775]
§ The Prime MinisterNo decision has yet been taken on the size and composition of the final UK Government delegation for the World summit on sustainable development. The official delegation will include Ministers, MPs, businessmen, representatives from non-governmental organisations and officials. The Government, of course, want to offset the carbon emissions from the delegation's attendance.
§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the UK Government's priorities for his attendance at the World sustainability summit in Johannesburg in September; and if he will make a statement. [71776]
§ The Prime MinisterThe World summit on sustainable development is important both for the planet and people's future prosperity. We strongly support the priority areas of poverty eradication and the sectoral themes of water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity identified by the UN Secretary-General. The developed world must also take concrete steps towards sustainable development by actions to improve our own use of resources. We are also committed to sustainable development in developing countries as witnessed by the increasing proportion of the UK's gross national income devoted to international aid which will rise to 0.4 per cent. by 2005–06, and through taking forward the important commitments of trade and development made at Doha.