§ Lord Bethellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware that the "cultural identity card", issued by the Council of Europe to give scholars free entrance to museums and other places of research, is no longer being issued and whether they will consult with other Ministers within the Council of Europe machinery with a view to establishing an improved scheme.
§ Lord EltonThe Council for Cultural Co-operation of the Council of Europe decided in June 1981 to discontinue the use of the present cultural identity card by the end of this year and, in the meantime, to print no further stocks of it, though it also commissioned a study of possible alternative schemes. However, when the Council considered the report of this study during its last meeting in June this year, it concluded that, despite its earlier view, it would continue with the card substantially in its present form. It will consider detailed proposals for doing so at its next meeting in February.