PMQT Written Answers – 2 November 1992
Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 2nd November 1992.
PRIME MINISTER:
South Africa (Plutonium)
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Government of the Republic of South Africa concerning the transport of plutonium by sea from the proposed thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield.
The Prime Minister : None.
Subsidiarity
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) of 22 October, Official Report, column 358, if he will take steps to distribute widely throughout the United Kingdom the paper on subsidiarity prepared by the European Commission once it has been submitted to the Council of Ministers.
The Prime Minister : The Commission’s paper on subsidiarity will be deposited today in accordance with the usual procedures. There are no current plans for wider distribution.
Political Advisers
Mr. Hutton : To ask the Prime Minister how many political advisers are in post in Her Majesty’s Government; in what department they are in post; and what is the total salary bill of such posts.
The Prime Minister : There are currently 30 special–political–advisers to Ministers employed in the civil service. The number in each Department is as follows :
|Number
———————————————————-
Cabinet Office (including No. 10) |8
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |1
Ministry of Defence |1
Department of Education |1
Department of Employment |1
Department of the Environment |2
Foreign and Commonwealth Office |2
Department of Health |1
Home Office |2
House of Lords |1
Northern Ireland Office |1
Privy Council Office |1
Scottish Office |2
Department of Social Security |1
Department of Trade and Industry |1
Department of Transport |1
Her Majesty’s Treasury |2
Welsh Office |1
The approximate current total salary bill is £1,188,742.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Hutton : To ask the Prime Minister how many staff are employed in his Office; and what was the cost of running his Office, broken down into salaries and wages, notional pension liability, administration costs and the cost of office services in the current year.
The Prime Minister : There is the equivalent of 85.5 staff employed in my office. The cost of running my office in the last financial year was £8,816,949.
The costs break down as follows :
Salaries and wages–£2,236,699.
Notional pension liability–£259,967.
Administration costs–£5,670,868.
Office services–£649,415.
Grant in aid to the Chequers trust is included in the figures. My salary is excluded.
Putting Britain First
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the practical consequences for Government policies of his commitment to put Britain first.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 29 October 1992] : The Government have always put Britain first in their policies and will continue to do so.
Industrial Diseases
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Prime Minister when the report from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council into bronchitis and emphysema in metal workers and coal miners will be published; if he will set out the responsibilities of each Government Department in respect of consideration of the issues and recommendations involved; and if he will make a statement on the proposals in relation to the report.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 29 October 1992] : The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council’s report will be published in the usual way. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security is giving the report the most careful consideration and will make an announcement in due course.
European Union
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister how many authentic copies of the treaty of European union were made available to the media and to members of the public before 9 April.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 29 October 1992] : Copies of the treaty on European union were made available to members of the public and media on demand from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office between signature on 7 February and the Treaty’s publication as a Command Paper, Cm. 1934, on 7 May. About 100 copies were distributed.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister how many authentic copies of the treaty of European union were made available to hon. Members.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 29 October 1992] : A stock of the text of the treaty of European union printed as Cm. 1934 is kept by the Vote Office and is available on demand by right hon. and hon. Members.