§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the 1970 UNESCO convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property. [153912]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthFollowing the recommendation in the report of the Ministerial Advisory Panel on the Illicit Trade chaired by Professor Norman Palmer, published in December, and after further consultations within Government, I am pleased to announce that the Government have taken the decision to accede to this convention once the normal Parliamentary and other formalities have been completed. We do so on the basis that no fresh legislative commitment is required and we intend to enter reservations on the basis of those outlined in Professor Palmer's Report.