§ Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthornasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their timetable for accession by the United Kingdom to the convention for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict (The Hague Convention 1954) and its two protocols; and whether there is any problem which requires clarification prior to accession. [HL263]
§ The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)Her Majesty's Government are giving active consideration to the ratification of the 1954 Hague Convention along with its protocols. Ratification would require primary legislation that would depend upon parliamentary time available. As a result, we cannot commit to a specific timetable.
The UK remains fully committed to the protection of cultural property in time of armed conflict in accordance with international law, including the relevant provisions of the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Convention which the UK ratified in 1998.