§ 2.52 p.m.
§ Lord Oram asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether during the forthcoming visit to London of Senor Mayor, the Director General of UNESCO, they will invite him to discuss with a Minister the prospects of the United Kingdom rejoining that organisation.
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Eggar, will meet the Director General of UNESCO during his visit to London on 2nd June.
Lord OramMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that very welcome reply. Is it not the case that Mr. Mayor is currently putting before his executive council an action programme involving considerable cuts in UNESCO's expenditure? Is that not in line with what Her Majesty's Government have said is a condition for our renewal of membership? Therefore, is not this forthcoming meeting to be welcomed with a view to our becoming members again?
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, we certainly welcomed the election of a new director general as a step in the right direction. As the noble Lord says, there have also been some positive signs under Senor Mayor's direction of a change in atmosphere at UNESCO. We hope that this will give impetus to the reform process which made little progress during 1986 and 1987.