§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the implications for Britain's contribution to international policy-making in the field of arts, culture and national heritage of the United Kingdom's non-membership of UNESCO; and if she will make a statement. [34823]
§ Mr. SproatThe United Kingdom's non-membership of UNESCO has not significantly affected the work of my Department. The question of membership of UNESCO is primarily for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The United Kingdom has no immediate plans to region UNESCO, although this issue is kept under review in the light of progress with reform in the organisation and other financial priorities.