The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1991Prime Minister (1990-1997)

PMQT Written Answers – 14 May 1991

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 14th May 1991.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Turkey (British Journalists)

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty’s Government have made representations to Turkey over the detention and expulsion of Robert Fisk, a journalist working for The Independent, and the banning of all journalists of The Independent from working in Turkey.

The Prime Minister : The detention and expulsion of Mr. Fisk and the future of The Independent’s representation in Turkey have been discussed by the British ambassador in Ankara with the Turkish authorities. We naturally wish for The Independent to have effective representation in Turkey.

 

Inaccurate Information

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list in the Official Report each instance of inadvertently inaccurate information given to Parliament since 1979 by Ministers of Her Majesty’s Government which was subsequently corrected in the Official Report; and what steps he is taking to improve the accuracy of information given to Parliament by Her Majesty’s Government.

The Prime Minister : Records are not maintained of corrections to the Official Report. Ministers seek the highest standards of accuracy in the information they give to Parliament.

 

Occupied Territories (Education)

Mr. Nellist : To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations he has made to the Israeli Prime Minister about the continuing closure of Palestinian schools, colleges and universities in the territories occupied by Israel ; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made representations on education in the occupied territories when he saw the Israeli Foreign Minister last on 5 March. This issue was also raised by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State during his visit to Israel and the occupied territories from 6 to 9 May.

 

Scrutiny Programme

Mr. Butterfill : To ask the Prime Minister what topics have been covered in the efficiency unit’s central scrutiny programme in the last financial year ; and which scrutiny reports have been published.

The Prime Minister : Twenty efficiency scrutinies have been undertaken by Departments in 1990-91 in association with the efficiency adviser and the efficiency unit. The programme of scrutinies, including those which are not yet completed, is as follows :

[see Hansard for table]

Decisions on the publication of scrutiny reports are taken by the Ministers responsible for the scrutinies concerned. In a number of cases where a scrutiny has been recently completed, no decision on publication has been made.

 

Engagements

Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14 May.

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