The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1992Prime Minister (1990-1997)

PMQT Written Answers – 5 June 1992

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 5th June 1992.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Nuclear Test Veterans

Mr. McMaster : To ask the Prime Minister if he has any plans to further consider awarding compensation to veterans of British nuclear tests and, or their families; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister : The Government will consider sympathetically a claim for compensation on behalf of any ex-service man who can be shown to have suffered ill health from exposure to ionising radiation as a result of duties in connection with the nuclear test programme. An expert study conducted in 1988 by the National Radiological Protection Board conceded that the overall incidence of death and malignant disease among British nuclear test veterans has been no worse than for people who were not involved in the tests. A further report from the NRPB on more recent data on mortality and cancer evidence is expected later this year.

 

Libya

Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister when he received the proposals from the United Nations for a meeting between representatives of the United Kingdom and Libyan Governments to discuss security issues relating to the supply of arms to the Provisional IRA; what will be the areas of discussion at the meeting on 9 June; and if he will explain the manner in which these arrangements were made public.

The Prime Minister : The United Nations Secretary-General told us on 14 May that the Libyan Foreign Minister had written to him offering to meet our long-standing request for information on Libya’s connections with the Provisional IRA. We have agreed to a meeting under UN auspices in Geneva on 9 June at which this information can be handed over. There will be no discussion at the meeting. In response to press inquiries, the Secretary-General’s spokesman in New York confirmed on 1 June that this meeting would take place.

 

Council of Ministers

Mr. Spearing : To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure that the outcome of meetings of the Council of Ministers of the European Communities held between 13 March and 6 May are reported in the usual way, in cases where such action has not yet been taken.

The Prime Minister : I have asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to write to the hon. Member and to place a copy of his letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

 

Lockerbie Bombing

Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what communications Her Majesty’s Government have received from the Government of Libya relating to two persons allegedly connected with the Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am 103.

The Prime Minister : We have had various approaches from Libyans and intermediaries over the Lockerbie bombing. None of these amounts to Libyan compliance with UN Security Council resolutions 731 and 748.

 

Sustainable Development

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to establish a sustainable development commission in the United Kingdom in conjunction with the United Nations.

The Prime Minister : I have no such plans.

 

President Bush

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet President Bush; and what matters he proposes to discuss.

The Prime Minister : I shall meet President Bush at Camp David this weekend. I expect to discuss a wide range of subjects with him.

 

Earth Summit

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what proposals on transfers of military spending to environmental investment will be put forward by the United Kingdom at the United Nations conference on environment and development.

The Prime Minister : There are no plans to put forward any such proposal.

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what attempts have been made to minimise the use of official cars by the United Kingdom delegation to the United Nations conference on environment and development in Rio de Janeiro this month.

The Prime Minister : We have made it a priority to limit the use of official cars at the Earth summit in Rio.

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out details of the critical representations made to Her Majesty’s Government since 31 May on the United Kingdom’s policies and proposals for the United Nations conference on environment and development in Rio de Janeiro; and what response he has made to the respective criticisms.

The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Ceredigion and Pembroke, North (Mr. Dafis) on 2 June 1992 at column 392.