§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the United Kingdom was not represented at the biennial general assembly of states parties to the world heritage convention in November 1995. [32747]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorHer Majesty's Government were represented at this meeting by the UNESCO observer section of the British embassy in Paris.
§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards world heritage matters; what are the responsibilities of the United Kingdom observer at UNESCO in this connection; and how information gathered by him is disseminated to interested parties in the United Kingdom. [32748]
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§ Sir Nicholas BonsorThe Government ratified UNESCO's world heritage convention in 1984 and actively supports its provisions concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage. The world heritage list of sites considered to be of outstanding universal value contains 16 UK sites. Later this month we shall be nominating maritime Greenwich for addition to the list.
The Government contribute annually to the world heritage convention. For 1996, the UK contribution is approximately £129,000.
The UNESCO observer section of the British embassy in Paris monitors events and occasionally attends meetings on behalf of the lead Whitehall Department, the Department of National Heritage. The observer's reports are sent to the DNH, which informs interested UK parties as necessary.