§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government:
- (1) What benefit the United Kingdom receives from its Membership of U.N.E.S.C.O.
- (2) Whether such benefit is worth the £535,572 which its membership of U.N.E.S.C.O. costs the United Kingdom in the two-year period 1955–56; and
- (3) Whether the time has not now come for the United Kingdom to withdraw from membership of U.N.E.S.C.O. so that the money can either be saved or spent to greater advantage.]
§ THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)My Lords, membership of U.N.E.S.C.O. affords both to organisations and to individuals an opportunity for international exchange in education, science and the arts. It also offers scholarships, fellowships and other forms of assistance which are of particular value to British non-self-governing territories. In the view of Her Majesty's Government these benefits do not constitute the sole justification for membership, which must be considered more broadly as the participation by the United Kingdom in a relatively new method of international co-operation. The desirability or otherwise of membership of U.N.E.S.C.O. is, I should have thought, a somewhat wider question than can be usefully dealt with in Question and Answer, and in any event raises far wider issues than those implied in the third part of my noble friend's Question. But it is sufficient to state that for the 902 above reasons Her Majesty's Government have no present intention of withdrawal.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for his reply. As the cost to the United Kingdom seems to rise steadily year by year, may I ask him whether Her Majesty's Government will keep very close watch on this increasing cost?
§ VICOUNT HAILSHAMYes, my lords.