§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to renew British membership of UNESCO. [39967]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorWe are keeping this issue under review.
§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's relationship to UNESCO. [39966]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorWe operate an observer section to UNESCO based in the Embassy in Paris which monitors developments within the organisation. This includes coverage, with the assistance of officials in London, of the twice yearly executive board sessions and the biennial general conference.
We retain membership of certain UNESCO programmes—World Heritage Committee; Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; and the Intergovernmental Council of the International Hydrological Programme.
§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much it would cost for the United Kingdom to rejoin UNESCO this year; and what percentage of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Overseas Development Administration budget that represents. [39968]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorAnnual assessed contribution would be approximately £11 million. This represents 0.31 per cent. of the total FCO-ODA 1995–96 budget.
In addition, there would be staffing costs which have yet to be quantified.