PMQT Written Answers – 9 March 1992
Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 9th March 1992.
PRIME MINISTER:
Women’s Issues
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to alter the present departmental structure for consideration of women’s issues.
The Prime Minister : I am currently examining existing departmental responsibilities for women’s issues.
Value Added Tax
Dr. Marek : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy not to widen the scope of VAT by introducing a positive rate on those items that are presently zero-rated.
The Prime Minister : The Government have no plans to extend the scope of VAT to any items which are currently zero-rated, and no need to do so.
Nuclear Non-proliferation
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet with non-governmental organisations which specialise in non-proliferation issues to discuss the outcome of the special session of the United Nations Security Council decisions on nuclear non-proliferation agreed in New York on 31 January.
The Prime Minister : I have no specific plans to do so. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is in close touch with non-governmental organisations in this field.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Prime Minister whether the library at 10 Downing street contains a copy of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
The Prime Minister : Yes.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the main points of the agreed United Nations Security Council special session policy to control nuclear proliferation held in New York on 31 January; indicating what plans he has to publicise the strategy agreed on nuclear non-proliferation.
The Prime Minister : The agreed conclusions of the high-level meeting of the Security Council on 31 January are set out in the statement which I made at the time on behalf of all members of the Security Council, and on which I reported to the House on 3 February at columns 21-35. The statement has been published as Security Council document S/23500, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Scotland
Mr. Raffan : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions on which he has officially visited Scotland since he assumed his present office, and the engagements he undertook during those visits.
The Prime Minister : I have made five official visits to Scotland, when I undertook a number of different engagements.
Wales
Mr. Raffan : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions on which he has officially visited Wales since he assumed his present office, and the engagements he has undertaken during those visits.
The Prime Minister : I have made one official visit to Wales, when I undertook a number of different engagements.
National Health Service Improvements
Mr. McCartney : To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received in the past six months seeking improvements in the national health service.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 6 March 1992] : I have received many representations on the national health service. The Government have increased the resources available to the National Health Service with the result that National Health Service spending has risen by 55 per cent. in real terms under this Government and next year National Health Service spending in England will rise to £618 per person, compared with £409 per head–1992-93 prices–in 1979.
The Government’s reforms are beginning to deliver improved health care. In 1991-92, the first year of our reforms, the National Health Service is forecast to treat 5.6 per cent. more in-patients and 4.3 per cent. more out-patients than last year.
Libya
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what assessment Her Majesty’s Government have made of the visit to Libya by Vasily Safranchuk, the United Nations envoy.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 25 February 1992] : The United Nations Secretary-General has now reported to the Security Council the outcome of Mr. Safronchuk’s recent visits to Libya. That report states that Security Council resolution 731 has not yet been complied with. We agree with that assessment. Libya must comply with United Nations Security Council resolution 731 or face further measures.