§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the criteria currently used by Her Majesty's Government in the appointment of the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO with special reference to the degree to which the commission is representative of relevant academic, professional, industrial, trade union, social and other appropriate organisations;
(2) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the arrangements which he is making to ensure effective representation of relevant academic, professional, industrial, trade union, social and other appropriate organisations in the United Kingdom delegation to next general conference of UNESCO in October 1974.
§ Mr. WoodIn the early years of the United Kingdom National Commission there was a wide network of representational membership. It became clear, however, that a commission that was completely representative was too large in practice to be effective as an advisory body. Since 1966, therefore, members have been appointed in a personal capacity rather than as representatives of interested organisations.
185WThe essential criteria for selection are the contributions expected from the individual's experience and the member's active interest in matters within the field of UNESCO's programme. Particularly when account is taken of the composition of the commission's five advisory committees, in education, natural sciences, social sciences, culture and communication. I consider that the commission meets the requirements of Article VII of UNESCO's constitution. A number of its members, in any case, have close connection with industrial, trade union and social organisations as well as with academic or professional bodies. Through the commission, its advisory committees and secretariat, wider and more detailed consultations are undertaken when necessary.
For the 1974 General Conference I expect to continue the practice of including in the United Kingdom delegation the chairman—or other members—of each of the advisory committees. I shall include additional advisers or experts as may seem desirable in the light of the agenda for the conference.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the consultations which he is holding with relevant academic, professional, industrial, trade union, social and other appropriate organisations with respect to the work of the Special Committee of Technical and Legal Experts appointed by Governments to meet in April 1974 and to prepare a draft recommendation to member States of UNESCO on the status of scientific research workers.
§ Mr. WoodUNESCO has sent to member States a preliminary report on the problem, and has asked for comments and observations. In the light of these, the meeting in April 1974, which will be a "Special Committee of Governmental Experts", will be asked to draft a recommendation for an international instrument, to be submitted later that year to the General Conference of UNESCO. Official invitations to the April meeting are expected in due course.
My Department has sent copies of the preliminary report to the Royal Society, the Confederation of British Industry, the 186W Trades Union Congress, the Association of Scientific, Technical and Management Staffs, and the Council of Science and Technology Institutes Limited, as well as to relevant Government Departments and through them the research councils. We have asked for comments and views and said that we are willing to widen the area of consultation if other appropriate bodies or individuals are suggested.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of all those relevant academic, professional, industrial, trade union, social and other appropriate organisations with which he has had consultations during the past two years and with which he is currently consulting in the formulation of the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the scientific work of UNESCO.
§ Mr. WoodThe main channels through which I discuss the scientific work of UNESCO are the Royal Society UNESCO Committee (a part of the United Kingdom National Commission), the Royal Society itself, the Department of Education and Science and, through it, the research councils.
I do not have the details of all the other bodies which have been consulted in the last two years, particularly as advice is often sought indirectly as in the case of the research councils, but among them are:— The Department of the Environment; the Department of Trade and Industry; the Science and Technology Department. Foreign and Commonwealth Office; the Office for Scientific and Technical Information; the British Council, and the Centre for Educational Development Overseas.
Four British national committees have also been set up, specifically to advise Her Majesty's Government on the UNESCO long-term international scientific programmes on Man and the Biosphere; the International Hydrological Decade; the International Geological Correlation Programme; and the World Science Information System (UNISIST). The Natural Environment Research Council also provides advice on the International Oceanographic Commission and UNESCO's programme on oceanography.
187W