UNESCO: Equatorial Guinea — Question

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 3:28 pm on 7 July 2010.

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Photo of Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Labour 3:28, 7 July 2010

Does the Minister recall that when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, she followed the lead of Ronald Reagan and withdrew the United Kingdom from UNESCO, causing us great diplomatic difficulties around the world and upsetting the scientific and educational communities here in the United Kingdom? Can the Minister give us an absolute assurance on behalf of the coalition that any problems with this prize or any cuts in public expenditure will not be used as an excuse for again taking us out of membership of UNESCO?