asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many officials are attending the Water Conservation Conference in South America; what is the total cost of sending the delegation to South America; and what will be learnt that is not known already by water conservationists and others in the United Kingdom.

The United Nations Water Conference, to which I assume the hon. Member refers, will focus on the means of ensuring adequate supplies of good quality water for the world's population. The United Kingdom delegation will be contributing rather than learning. It will include three officials from my Department, two of them on the strength of the Central Water Planning Unit; and two from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The cost to my Department will be about £5,500.