The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1990Prime Minister (1990-1997)

PMQT Written Answers – 17 December 1990

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The text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 17th December 1990.

PRIME MINISTER:
Government Objectives

Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Prime Minister what are the objectives of Her Majesty’s Government for the rest of this Parliament.

The Prime Minister : The Government’s objectives remain to carry forward the programme outlined in the Queen’s Speech, Official Report, 7 November 1990, columns 4-6.
Poland

Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Prime Minister if he will hold an early meeting with the president of Poland; and if he will make a statement on British-Poland relations.

The Prime Minister : I certainly hope to meet the Polish President– whose election I warmly welcome – before too long. No date has yet been fixed. Our bilateral relations with Poland are excellent. We hope that President Walesa will maintain the IMF-backed economic reform programme, which is vital to Poland’s future prosperity. We will continue to give substantial help to ease the transition to democracy and a market-based economy.

Terrorism

Mr. Hunter : To ask the Prime Minister how many people have been killed and how many injured (a) in Great Britain and (b) in Northern Ireland as a result of terrorist activity each month since May 1988.

The Prime Minister : The information is given in the tables.

(a) Great Britain

|Deaths |Injuries
————————————-
1988
May |0 |0
June |0 |0
July |0 |0
August |1 |8
September |0 |0
October |0 |0
November |0 |0
December |270 |<1>5

1989
January |0 |0
February |0 |1
March |0 |0
April |0 |0
May |0 |0
June |0 |0
July |0 |0
August |0 |0
September |11 |16
October |0 |0
November |0 |2
December |0 |0

1990
January |0 |0
February |0 |2
March |0 |0
April |0 |0
May |1 |9
June |1 |41
July |1 |0
August |0 |0
September |0 |4
October |0 |0
November |0 |0
December |0 |0

<1> The figures for December 1988 result from the Lockerbie incident. All other figures result from terrorist activity connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland.
(b) Northern Ireland

|Deaths |Injuries
————————————-
1988
May |5 |90
June |9 |64
July |11 |67
August |26 |159
September |4 |117
October |8 |67
November |4 |67
December |2 |56

1989
January |3 |49
February |10 |64
March |12 |61
April |4 |102
May |3 |103
June |4 |91
July |5 |99
August |2 |109
September |3 |56
October |5 |76
November |9 |60
December |2 |89

1990
January |8 |70
February |0 |122
March |6 |66
April |9 |54
May |1 |84
June |5 |59
July |8 |111
August |1 |71
September |6 |77
October |19 |<1>-
November |9 |<1>-

<1> These figures are not yet available.

Advertising

Mr. Michael : To ask the Prime Minister whether he will review the percentage increase in the expenditure on advertising in the press, television and other forms of publicity in each Department of state in the last five years and institute an inquiry into the reasons for any departmental increases which are in excess of the rate of inflation over the period.

The Prime Minister : Expenditure on advertising in the press, television and other forms of publicity is a matter for departmental Ministers within the Government conventions on the use of paid publicity and advertising.

Downing Street

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if he has any plans to re-establish the public right of way through Downing Street.

The Prime Minister : Access to Downing Street has been controlled for security reasons for many years. This does not stop the many people who come to Downing Street for meetings, receptions or to present petitions.

Bangladesh

Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister what message he has sent to the newly appointed President of Bangladesh; if he will place the text of any messages in the Library; and if he will make a statement about relations between Her Majesty’s Government and the Government of Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister : My right hon Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary sent a message of good wishes to the acting President, Mr. Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed and looks forward to working with the new interim Government of Bangladesh to reinforce the friendly relations which already exist between our two countries.
Opinion Surveys

Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list any opinion surveys conducted by, for or on behalf of the Cabinet Office and Management and Personnel Office since 1 January 1985 giving the date and purpose of each survey.

The Prime Minister : This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.