To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many forestry projects have been approved under the memorandum of understanding between Her Majesty's Government and the Brazilian Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what forestry projects have been agreed with the Brazilian authorities for financing from the overseas aid programme.

One forestry project, on climate research, has been agreed with the Brazilian authorities. Details of this were given in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) on 1 March, column 283. We have also recently told the Brazilian authorities that we are ready to provide finance to an ITTO-sponsored forest management project in the Tapajos reserve, the detailed project agreement for which is now under discussion between Brazil and the ITTO.A further dozen proposals are under preparation or are being considered by the Brazilian Government. We hope to reach agreement shortly on some of these, to allow them to begin in the second quarter of this year.