§ 1. Mr. Rathboneasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will seek a meeting with the Secretary-General of the United Nations to discuss the future of the United Nations Eucational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Douglas Hurd)We see no advantage in this step. The United Nations specialised agencies are autonomous, and we shall do best by continuing to put across our views on UNESCO effectively and directly to the Director General and his staff, as we do now.
§ Mr. RathboneThrough those and any other channels available to him, will my hon. Friend miss no opportunity to reiterate to the Director General and others that it is no part of the Government's policy to involve themselves or encourage other Governments to involve themselves in controlling the freedom of the press or broadcasting to report news fairly and without bias? Will he also reiterate that it is the Government's policy not to fund any part of the UNESCO operation or programmes likely to bend such freedom?
§ Mr. HurdThat is exactly right. We are worried about those developments and have taken the lead in pointing out to our friends and allies the dangers of any steps within UNESCO to undermine the freedom of the press.
§ Mr. Christopher PriceAlthough the United Kingdom national commission and the Government have rightly been critical of the UNESCO proposals for the media world-wide, is it not dangerous for Governments to decide not to fund that part of an international organisation with which from time to time they may disagree?
§ Mr. HurdWe pay our share of the UNESCO budget, but we are perfectly entitled to point out within UNESCO activities that we believe should or should not be supported.
§ Mr. WilkinsonIs my hon. Friend aware of the new United Nations fund to promote scientific and technological activities in the Third world and developing countries, which has a budget target of $250 million, of which so far only $40 million has been raised, primarily from OPEC countries? The United Kingdom Government have so far not given any money to the fund. Will my hon. Friend look into the matter?