The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1993Prime Minister (1990-1997)

PMQT Written Answers – 5 February 1993

admin , 

Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 5th February 1993.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Appointments

Mr. Canavan : To ask the Prime Minister what public appointments he has made since 1 November 1992; and what information he has on the political affiliations of those appointed.

The Prime Minister : Appointments (including reappointments) made by me between 1 November 1992 and 31 January 1993 have been as follows :

|Number

————————————————

Trustees of museums and galleries |10

Civil service appointments |2

Members of pay review bodies |2

Other appointments |6

Any political affiliations those appointed may have are not relevant to their appointments.

 

Uniform Business Rate

Mr. Wigley : To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a table indicating the rate in pounds sterling of the uniform business rate in (a) Wales and (b) England in each of the past five years ; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister : The uniform rate was not in operation before 1 April 1990. The information for the last three years is given in the following table.

Year |Wales |England

——————————–

1990-91 |0.368 |0.348

1991-92 |0.408 |0.386

1992-93 |0.425 |0.402

The poundage for Wales and England were set in 1990 at a level which ensured that the overall yield from ratepayers remained at the 1989-90 level in real terms. Since 1990 poundages have been uprated in line with the annual increase in the retail prices index as at September in the preceding year.

 

Honours System

Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to make an announcement on his review of the honours system.

The Prime Minister : An announcement will be made shortly.

 

Crown Immunity

Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions Her Majesty’s Government have used Crown privilege in criminal cases in the last three years.

The Prime Minister : Crown privilege is now described by the courts as public interest immunity. No central records of such claims are maintained. On 1 February 1993 at column 18 my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General provided particulars of cases conducted by the prosecuting authorities superintended by him, in which claims had been supported by ministerial certificates.

 

Southwark (Visits)

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister how many official visits he has made to Southwark since he became Prime Minister; and if he will give details of the date and purpose of each visit.

The Prime Minister : I visited Guy’s hospital on 24 July 1991.