§ Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Minister of Overseas Development if, in line with other Western countries and whilst the 491W resolutions remain in force, she will withdraw or reduce the United Kingdom's budgetary allocation to UNESCO in view of that body's recent decisions to deny to Israel the right of full and equal participation in UNESCO activities; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Sandelsonasked the Minister of Overseas Development if, in view of the US State Department's decision to reduce its budget to UNESCO, she will withdraw or reduce the United Kingdom's budgetary allocation to UNESCO in view of that body's recent decisions to deny to Israel the right of full and equal participation in UNESCO's activities; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Minister of Overseas Development if, in line with a number of other Western countries and whilst the resolutions remain in force, she will withdraw or reduce the United Kingdom's budgetary allocation to UNESCO in view of that body's recent decisions to deny to Israel the right of full and equal participation in UNESCO activities; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Tomlinsonasked the Minister of Overseas Development if, in line with a number of other Western countries and whilst the resolutions remain in force, she will withdraw or reduce the United Kingdom's budgetary allocation to UNESCO in view of that body's recent decisions to deny to Israel the right of full and equal participation in UNESCO activities.
§ Mrs. HartThe recent General Conference of UNESCO passed two resolutions which directly affected the position of Israel as a member State of the organisation. One dealt with the allocation of member States to regional groups for the purposes of regional meetings. Israel wished to be included in the European region. The United Kingdom and other Western countries supported an amendment to a draft resolution which would have achieved this purpose but the amendment was defeated by 33 votes for, 48 against, and 31 abstentions. Israel had never been included in a regional group and to this extent its posi-492W tion was not worsened from what it had been previously. However, it is now the only member State in longstanding membership of the organisation not allocated to a regional group.
The second resolution concerned the protection of cultural property in Jerusalem. Resolutions passed by previous sessions of the General Conference had called on Israel to cease archaeological excavations and alterations in the cultural and historical sites of the Old City of Jerusalem. The resolution passed at the recent session condemned Israel and invited the Director-General of UNESCO to
withhold assistance from Israel in the fields of education, science and culture, until such time as Israel scrupulously respects previous resolutions.The United Kingdom and other Western countries voted against this resolution, but it was passed by 64 votes to 27, with 26 abstentions.
I understand that one Western country recently decided to reduce by 10 per cent. its regular contribution to the budget of UNESCO in the biennium 1975-76, and that comparable action is under consideration in another. Decisions recently taken in a third country may also have the effect of reducing that country's payments to UNESCO. The regular budget for UNESCO's programmes in the biennium 1975–76, was adopted by 110 votes in favour, none against, and 10 abstentions. This vote was taken before the resolutions about Israel were adopted.
I think, however, that it would be unwise to withhold either the whole or part of the United Kingdom's assessed contribution to the budget of UNESCO on this account. We have always held the view that member States of international organisations should pay their subscriptions in full whether or not they agree with all the decisions of the governing bodies concerned. At the same time we also consider that all member States should enjoy equal rights of participation in the activities of these organisations, and I can assure hon. Members that the United Kingdom representatives at UNESCO will continue to be guided by this principle and will act and vote accordingly.