The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1995Prime Minister (1990-1997)

PMQT Written Answers – 7 December 1995

admin

Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 7th December 1995.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Engagements

Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 7 December.

Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 7 December.

The Prime Minister: This morning, I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

 

Australian Aboriginal Artifacts

Mr. Meacher: To ask the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty’s Government have received since 1980 for assistance from the Government of Australia or the state government of Western Australia or any of their agencies, in respect of the alleged removal, contrary to Australian law, of aboriginal artifacts from or through the Broome area of Western Australia; what action was subsequently taken in response to each request; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister: As far as I am aware, none. Further examination of the government archives could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

 

Dr. Alfred Hartmann

Mr. Meacher: To ask the Prime Minister whether, on what occasion and for what purpose, he or his predecessor Baroness Thatcher has met Dr. Alfred Hartmann.

The Prime Minister: I do not recall having met Dr. Hartmann, nor am I aware of any meeting between my predecessor and Dr. Hartmann.

 

Ministers

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the number of Ministers by rank in each Department of State, excluding law officers; and if he will provide the corresponding figures for the outgoing Government in 1965.

The Prime Minister: This is a matter of public record.

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister how many Ministers are in the Department of Trade and Industry now and how many were in the then Board of Trade in 1965; what are the numbers of officials in the Department by rank from assistant secretary upwards in 1979 and at the present time; and what plans he has for reducing the number of Ministers in the Department.

The Prime Minister: This is a matter of public record. I have no intention of reducing the number of Ministers in the Department of Trade and Industry.

 

Ministerial Visits

Mr. Meacher: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those occasions on which his predecessor notified the Crown between 1979 and 1990 of her intention to visit Switzerland.

The Prime Minister: In accordance with “Questions of Procedures for Ministers”, it is normal practice for all Cabinet Ministers to notify the Crown of their intention to make an official foreign visit.