§ 40. Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Minister for the Arts what discussions he has had regarding the effect on the arts of the United Kingdom's non-menbership of UNESCO.
§ Mr. CampbellDoes the Minister not agree that the continued self-exclusion of the United Kingdom from 698 UNESCO is damaging to the arts in Britain? Does he not also agree that if we wish to see changes in UNESCO we would be better involved now, rather than standing on the sidelines, especially as UNESCO is now under different direction?
§ Mr. LuceAs the House knows, I am not responsible for decisions on UNESCO. That is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary. Having said that, I must tell the House that in the past when we have been a member of UNESCO there has been no particular benefit for the arts in Britain.