HL Deb 17 March 1999 vol 598 cc102-3WA
Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have completed their consideration of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property and of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects announced on 3 June 1997 by Lord McIntosh of Haringey (col. 563); and why they are taking so long in deciding whether to sign. [HL1449]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

We have not yet taken a view about whether to sign the 1970 UNESCO Convention. We are currently undertaking an interdepartmental consultation about whether the UK should become a signatory to the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention. This is taking rather longer than had been expected due to the need to consider legal issues in some detail. Our aim will be to complete these consultations within the next three months.