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 – 9 December 1992

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 9th December 1992.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Iraq

Mr. Hain : To ask the Prime Minister when he first became aware of the 1988 amendments to the 1985 Howe guidelines for defence-related exports to Iraq.

The Prime Minister : The development and application of the guidelines will be a matter for the Scott inquiry.

 

Ministerial Travel

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what has been the total cost to the Exchequer of his travels within the European Communities to meet his counterparts since 1 July 1992.

The Prime Minister : The total cost is not yet available.

 

Ministerial Meetings

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list by date all meetings and telephone conversations he has had with his European Community counterparts during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council.

The Prime Minister : I have had frequent contacts with my EC colleagues, most recently during a tour of EC capitals to prepare for the Edinburgh European Council.

 

Iraq and Iran

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to discuss arms and nuclear exports to Iraq and Iran from European Community countries during the European summit of the European Council.

The Prime Minister : We are committed to strengthening nuclear non-proliferation regimes and to controlling arms exports. The United Kingdom presidency has taken forward work on nuclear non-proliferation and on the harmonisation of conventional arms export policies in European political co-operation. We have no plans to discuss EC arms and nuclear exports to Iraq and Iran at the Edinburgh summit.

 

Legal Expenses

Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Prime Minister on what dates, in what circumstances and at what cost, contributions have been made, at public expense, towards the legal expenses of officers of Her Majesty’s Government, officers of the House of Commons who are Members of the House, persons working in the private office of Ministers and accounting officers for Departments of state since 1979.

The Prime Minister : I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 3 December, Official Report, column 307.