PMQT Written Answers – 5 February 1991

Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 5th February 1991.

PRIME MINISTER:

United States President

Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has spoken by telephone to the President of the United States of America since 1 January.

The Prime Minister : I have spoken to President Bush a number of times since the beginning of January and shall continue to do so.

The Gulf

Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Prime Minister whether, based on the manufacturer’s estimate of extent of damage beyond targets hit, he can provide a conservative estimate of civilian casualties to date in the Gulf war.

The Prime Minister : The targets being attacked by coalition forces are sites which could pose a threat to allied forces or facilities supporting Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait. These attacks have been carefully planned, with the aim of keeping civilian casualties as low as possible.

Mr. Latham : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress on the liberation of Kuwait.

The Prime Minister : The allied air campaign continues to reduce Iraq’s military capability and its ability to support the occupation of Kuwait. The campaign is proceeding as planned and air supremacy has now been achieved. Coalition forces have successfully dealt with Iraqi incursions into Saudi Arabia, and have largely destroyed Iraq’s limited naval capability.