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 – 25 November 1991

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 25th November 1991.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

EC Foreign Policy

Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to reject any proposal for a common EC foreign policy or for foreign policy co-ordination which would impinge on the United Kingdom’s relations with other Commonwealth countries or restrict the right of the United Kingdom to work with other Commonwealth countries on any matter of Commonwealth concern.

The Prime Minister : We shall not accept any treaty text which would impair our ability to maintain and develop our relations with other Commonwealth countries.

 

Livestock Premiums

Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to ensure that the Scottish Office, Welsh Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food co-ordinate the payment of livestock premiums so that all farmers in Great Britain receive payments at the same time.

The Prime Minister : My right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced on 14 May that it was hoped to pay the majority of first advances under the sheep annual premium scheme no later than early autumn. This target was comfortably achieved in all parts of the United Kingdom. Payment of the second advance is already under way. Each agriculture department aims to make payments under the livestock schemes as quickly as possible. Producers’ interests would not be best served by co-ordinating payments in the way suggested.

 

Traffic, Parliament Square

Mr. Soley : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the reasons why all traffic was stopped from entering Parliament square at 15.05 hours on 19 November.

The Prime Minister : The management of traffic in London is an operational matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. I understand however that traffic in Parliament square was held up for a short period at 15.05 hours on 19 November to facilitate the passage of the President of Hungary to the Palace of Westminster.

 

Homelessness

Mr. Battle : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to co-ordinate the activities of the Department of the Environment in dealing with homeless people and the activities of the Resettlement Agency in funding replacement bed spaces for closed resettlement units.

The Prime Minister : Regular discussions are held between Ministers and officials of the Department of the Environment and the Department of Social Security and the Resettlement Agency. At a local level, the agency holds detailed discussions on the provision of replacement beds for resettlement units which have closed or are to close with local authorities and the voluntary organisations in the area concerned.

 

Nuclear Testing

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to the answer of 5 November, Official Report, column 43, he will publish the text of the letter from Her Majesty’s ambassador in Washington to the Chief of the Shoshone Nation regarding the continuation of British nuclear testing in Nevada.

The Prime Minister : I have arranged for the text of the letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to the reply of 5 November, Official Report, column 43, he will publish the text of the letter on nuclear testing from his Australian counterpart.

The Prime Minister : Any decision to publish the text of the letter is one for the Australian Government.