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 – 10 June 1992

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 10th June 1992.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Data Protection

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department’s arrangements for consulting the Data Protection Registrar during the planning stage of any initiative involving the collection, use or disclosure of personal data; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

When planning any project involving information technology, the standing instructions include a specific action to consider the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1984. In any case of doubt, the Data Protection Registrar is consulted. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is satisfied with the effectiveness of these arrangements.

 

International Parliamentary Assemblies

Sir Anthony Grant : To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy on the appointment of non-elected persons to the United Kingdom delegations to those international parliamentary assemblies for which he makes appointments.

Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

Any appointments my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister makes to United Kingdom delegations to international parliamentary assemblies are made in accordance with the rules of the assembly concerned.

 

Energy Tax

Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty’s Government intend to support the EC energy tax proposal.

Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

The Government will examine the European Commission’s recent draft directive on a carbon/energy tax carefully, taking account of the outcome of the Rio summit, and the actions taken by other major countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

 

Brazil

Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with the authorities in Brazil what bilateral action can be taken to provide for the (a) housing requirements, (b) education requirements and (c) medical requirements of street children in Brazil; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton [holding answer 8 June 1992] : I have been asked to reply.

We provide assistance under the ODA joint funding scheme to programmes for street children and other groups carried out in Brazil by non-governmental organisations. We are open to requests for external professional advice under our bilateral technical co-operation programme to Brazil.

Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with the authorities in Brazil what bilateral action can be taken to (a) tackle the plight of street children and (b) bring to justice their killers.

Mr. Newton [holding answer 8 June 1992] : I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister plans to raise the matter during his visit. While it is for the Brazilian authorities to take measures to resolve the problem, we are doing what we can to alleviate the plight of street children by assisting the non-governmental organisations which work with them.

Mr. Alton : To ask the Prime Minister what representations he intends to make about the plight of assassinated street children in Brazil, during his visit to Rio de Janeiro; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton [holding answer 8 June 1992] : I have been asked to reply.

The Government share the hon. Member’s concern. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister plans to raise the matter in Rio de Janeiro.