The Queen's Speech: Britain to rejoin Unesco

Queen's Speech

Britain to rejoin Unesco

The Overseas Development Administration will publish a White Paper covering all Britain's efforts to help poor countries in the autumn. It will explain how the Government will implement policies to reduce poverty and promote development "which brings real benefits to the poorest people in the poorest countries".

The Queen's speech also confirmed that Britain will rejoin the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation after quitting 12 years ago when the UK had serious concerns about Unesco's effectiveness. Charities are now anxious to see if cuts in aid made in the last two years will be reversed. Britain spends about 0.3 per cent of its GDP in aid to the developing world - less than half the UN target. Nick Schoon