HC Deb 02 May 1963 vol 676 cc1286-7
10. Sir Richard Pilkington

asked the Minister of Education what help, financial and otherwise, the Government will give towards the recent Swedish plan put before the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to save the statues and temples of Abu Simbel.

Sir E. Boyle

The Government have already indicated that there is no question at the moment of joining in the appeal made by U.N.E.S.C.O. for contributions to the cost of saving these statues and temples. The particular plan to which the hon. Member refers is only one of several which have been put forward in U.N.E.S.C.O. as alternatives to the original proposal, and a final decision has yet to be taken.

Sir Richard Pilkington

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Answer is very disappointing? Does he not agree that these temples and statues are a very important part of the heritage of mankind? Does he not agree further that all civilised nations, and particularly Great Britain, should do what they can to preserve them for future generations?

Sir E. Boyle

I sympathise with the point made by my hon. Friend, but the basic reason for the attitude of the United Kingdom has been that the educational needs of the developing countries should have first claim on resources that can be made available to U.N.E.S.C.O. I think that that was the right stand to take.

Dr. King

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the U.N.E.S.C.O. campaign to save these precious monuments has unanimous support in the Council of Europe and that the attitude of his predecessor began with mild sympathy and ended with cold indifference? Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that to give help to the U.N.E.S.C.O. project could be a contribution not only to culture but to world understanding and peace?

Sir E. Boyle

I do not want to prejudge too finally, because two alternative plans to the original proposal were considered by the Executive Committee of the Nubia Appeal Fund last week and will shortly be considered by the Executive Board of U.N.E.S.C.O. In view of the limited funds available to U.N.E.S.C.O., I believe that we have been right as a country to say that priority should be given to the educational needs of developing countries.

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