§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what progress has been made on the setting up of a UK National Commission for UNESCO; and what role the(a) Department for Education and Employment, (b) Department of Trade and Industry, Office of Science and Technology and (c) Department for Culture, Media and Sport will have in selecting appropriate non-Governmental members of the Commission; [55231]
(2) if she will list the Government departments which participate in UNESCO's activities and on what matters; [55230]
(3) how many (a) officials, and (b) NGOs have attended UNESCO-related conferences on the United Kingdom's behalf since the UK rejoined UNESCO; and what encouragement she has given to groups outside Government to participate in these conferences. [55232]
§ Clare ShortI refer my hon. Friend to my letters of 7 August 1998.
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§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the(a) contribution made by and (b) benefits obtained by each Department which has participated in UNESCO's activities since the UK's resumption of UNESCO membership on 1 July. [55292]
§ Clare ShortSince the resumption of UK membership of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the financial costs of which are borne by my Department, a range of Government departments have contributed to activities of specific interest to them. We will be publishing a strategy paper in 1999 outlining our priorities for our work with UNESCO.