§ Baroness Anelay of St Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the speech of Lord Davies of Oldham on 4 March (HL Deb, col 28), what are the legal and policy issues which need clarification in consultation within the Government before the accession of the United Kingdom to the UNESCO Convention can be completed. [HL3157]
§ Baroness BlackstoneThere were a number of complex legal and policy issues raised by the UNESCO Convention that needed to be resolved before the formal process of accession could start, particularly in respect of Articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10. All these issues have now been resolved and I have158WA authorised the commencement of the formal process of accession. The convention will be published as a Command Paper, together with an Explanatory Memorandum, and these will be laid before Parliament for 21 sitting days. It is anticipated that the convention will be published before the end of April.
§ Baroness Anelay of St Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the speech of Lord Davies of Oldham on 4 March (HL Deb, col 28), what issues have had to be resolved to ensure that accession by the Government to the UNESCO Convention will be compatible with Scottish legislation. [HL3158]
§ Baroness BlackstoneAccession to the UNESCO Convention takes effect across the whole of the United Kingdom. It was necessary to ensure that there were equivalent measures under Scots law to those measures under English law that had been identified as satisfying the requirements of the convention. This process has now been completed.