HC Deb 26 June 1996 vol 280 cc324-5
6. Mr. Mark Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultations she has had with regard to co-operation with UNESCO. [33201]

The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Mr. Eric Forth)

None.

Mr. Robinson

Can my hon. Friend confirm that Britain is making full use of its liaison arrangements with UNESCO? What steps has his Department taken to evaluate the educational benefits of rejoining?

Mr. Forth

Yes, but I find it difficult to imagine circumstances in which we could identify a value added, in educational terms, in rejoining the present form of UNESCO—particularly in comparison with the undoubted value of our membership of bodies such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Mr. Dalyell

What is the particular form of UNESCO to which the Government object? Is it not humiliating that a party which included among its members David Eccles and Edward Boyle—who, as Education Secretaries, were great supporters of UNESCO—continues to adopt a stand-off attitude that brings shame to our country?

Mr. Forth

No. Madam Speaker, if I were to attempt to list the defects that we still identify in UNESCO, it would try your patience and that of the House. For example, we believe that its work lacks a clear focus, there is a danger of its duplicating the activities of other organizations—not least the OECD—we wish to see further decentralisation from Paris into the field, it needs to reduce staff costs, and we have no evidence that if we were to inject £11 million per year into UNESCO we would get any value for money. I am not impressed by the hon. Gentleman's dropping historical names and I doubt that it will impress the House.