To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Minister for Overseas Development has had from Dr. Alan Tye of the West African Ornithological Society in relation to the Dzanga-Sangha rainforest reserve and the Dzanga-Ndoki national park in the Central African Republic; and what is his policy on Government aid for road-building projects in such areas.

Dr. Tye has written to me about a rural development project in the Dzanga-Sangha rain forest reserve which was tentatively scheduled for presentation to the August 1991 session of the executive board of the African development bank.I replied that the project had been withdrawn at the request of executive directors representing several non-regional members of the bank, including United Kingdom, until a comprehensive assessment of its environmental impact has been undertaken.We would expect environmental and social impact assessments to be undertaken for road projects located in environmentally sensitive areas.