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 – 19 July 1991

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 19th July 1991.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Iraq

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from Oxfam on the present state of malnutrition and risk of epidemic disease in Iraq.

The Prime Minister : I have received no direct representations from Oxfam. I am aware of its concerns, which were discussed by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development during a visit to Oxfam on 10 July.

 

Wild Birds

Mr. Wray : To ask the Prime Minister what action Her Majesty’s Government are taking to curtail the trade of wild-caught birds into (a) the United Kingdom and (b) EC countries.

The Prime Minister : We have asked our scientific advisers, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to review the evidence as to whether the trade in wildlife is compatible with maintaining the populations of species at satisfactory levels. We will consider, in the light of their findings, whether any changes in existing conservation controls are required. Negotiations are continuing on Community proposals for the protection of animals during transport.

 

Trident

Mr. Frank Cook : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith), Official Report, 27 June, column 512, what factors he took into account in reaching his assessment that the introduction of Trident in the mid-1990s will provide the minimum capability necessary to maintain an effective independent deterrent into the next century; and what weight he gave in making this assessment to the United Kingdom obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to Defence Open Government Documents 80/23, 82/1 and 87/01 available in the Library.

 

Genocide Convention

Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Prime Minister further to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) of 16 April, Official Report, column 162, what legal advice he has sought on the genocide convention in respect of Saddam Hussein.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 17 July 1991] : I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on7 May at column 390.

 

Housing

Mr. John Home Robertson : To ask the Prime Minister if the Government has any plans to provide any special assistance to local authorities, housing associations or other providers of housing to meet the housing needs of service men and their families returning to civilian life as a consequence of “Options for Change”.

The Prime Minister : The details of the force reductions required as a result of “Options for Change” are still being examined. We are considering how to deal with the housing implications as part of this work.