§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if it is his policy to urge UNESCO to place St. Kilda World Heritage Site on their in danger list; [63392]
(2) on what date the Government expects UNESCO to announce whether they intend to add the World Heritage Site of St. Kilda to their in danger list. [63393]
§ Mr. MacdonaldI have been asked to reply.
The Government were fully aware of the environmental sensitivities on and around St. Kilda, and of its status as a World Heritage Site, when they made the decision about which areas in the Atlantic should be offered for petroleum licensing.
We shall be responding to UNESCO to reassure it that there is no case for the placement of St. Kilda on the list of endangered World Heritage Sites.