PMQT Written Answers – 10 June 1993
Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 10th June 1993.
PRIME MINISTER:
Engagements
Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister is he will list his official engagements for Thursday 10 June.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 10 June.
The Prime Minister : This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.
Political Advisers
Mr. Hain : To ask the Prime Minister what was the number of Government political advisers for each year since 1980-81.
The Prime Minister : The information requested has not been regularly collected centrally. The available information on the number of special advisers–including expert advisers–is as follows :
|Number
—————————-
July 1988 |30
October 1989 |31
October 1990 |33
November 1991 |39
November 1992 |38
May 1993 |42
Mr. Hain : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total expenditure on Government political advisers broken down into salaries and other costs for each year since 1980-81 in (a) cash and (b) 1992-93 prices.
The Prime Minister : Precise total salary bills and aggregate figures for 1980-81–1987-88 are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The aggregate figures for 1988-1993 available are as follows :
As at |Paybill<1> |1992-93 prices<2>
|£ million |£ million
—————————————————————————————————————-
June 1993 |1.37 |1.34
September 1992 |1.30 |1.30
September 1991 |1.10 |1.14
July 1990 |0.95 |1.05
June 1989 |0.93 |1.11
September 1988 |0.74 |0.94
<1> Not including ERNIC and other personnel overheads.
<2> Calculated using the GDP deflator.
School Visits
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 27 May, Official Report, column 663, if he will give the date and name of each school which he has visited since taking his present office.
The Prime Minister : I have nothing further to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 27 May at column 663.
Ministers (Severance Pay)
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister how much in severance payments the right hon. Members for Kingston upon Thames (Mr. Lamont) and for Watford (Mr. Garel-Jones) will receive following their departure from ministerial office; and to what extent such payments are free from income tax.
The Prime Minister : Severance payments for Ministers are determined under the provisions of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991. Under the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, severance payments of less than £30,000–including those to former Ministers–are exempt from tax.
Government Departments (Sub-contractors)
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to require contracting suppliers of goods and services to Government Departments to exercise good practices in the prompt payment of their sub-contractors; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : Following the announcement during the 1992 Budget, all Government contracts have been required to contain a clause requiring the supplier or contractor to pay its subcontractors promptly. In the absence of normal practice to the contrary for that type of contract or other special circumstances, the commitment should be to pay the subcontractor within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice or similar demand for payment as defined by the contract.