PMQT Written Answers – 26 July 1993
Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 26th July 1993.
PRIME MINISTER:
Japan (Visit)
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what specific representations he received from Japanese non-governmental organisations on (a) nuclear non-proliferation, (b) international trade in plutonium and other nuclear explosives and (c) nuclear waste management assistance for Russia, during his visit to Japan for the recent G7 summit.
The Prime Minister : I did not receive any representations from non- governmental organisations on these issues during my recent visit to Japan.
Sustainable Development
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 19 May 1992 to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Hayes), Official Report, column 113, if he will list the members of the new ministerial committee on the environment, referred in paragraph 4.5 of the consultation paper “UK Strategy for Sustainable Development”; how often it intends to meet; and if he will provide details of its remit.
The Prime Minister : The remit and membership of the ministerial committee on the environment remain as stated in my answer of 19 May 1992, Official Report, column 113. Meetings take place as necessary.
Drug Misuse
Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the present arrangements for co-ordinating Government action on drug misuse between the different Departments of State ; and what proposals he has to improve them.
The Prime Minister : The Government are committed to bringing forward proposals to improve further the co-ordination of the control of drug misuse. Options are currently under consideration.
Top Salaries Review Body
Mr. Wolfson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Top Salaries Review Body.
The Prime Minister : The name of the Top Salaries Review Body (TSRB) has been changed to the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB). At the same time the Review Body’s terms of reference have been revised. Both these changes have been introduced at the Review Body’s request, and have been agreed with it. The revised terms of reference are as follows :
“To advise the Prime Minister on the remuneration of holders of judicial office; senior civil servants, senior officers of the armed forces; and such other public appointments as may from time to time be specified.
The Prime Minister may also ask the Review Body to advise from time to time on the pay and pensions of Members of Parliament and their allowances; Peer’s allowances; and on the pay, pensions and allowances of Ministers and others whose pay is determined by a Ministerial and other Salaries Order.
Procedures
The Review Body will make other recommendations as it sees fit in order that the level of remuneration for the groups covered by its remit is sufficient to ensure, over time, the recruitment and retention and motivation of suitably able and qualified people to exercise their different responsibilities;
to ensure that, as appropriate, the remuneration for the remit groups relates coherently to that of their subordinates, encourages efficiency and effectiveness, and takes account of the different management and organisational structures which may be in place from time to time;
to relate reward to performance where appropriate;
to maintain the confidence of those covered by the Review Body’s remit that its recommendations have been properly and fairly determined ; and
to ensure that the remuneration of those covered by the remit is consistent with the Government’s equal opportunities policy. In making recommendations, the review body shall consider any factors which the Government and other witnesses may draw to its attention. In particular it shall have regard to :
differences in terms and conditions of employment between the public and private sector and between the remit groups, taking account of relative job security and the value of benefits in kind; changes in national pay systems, including flexibility and the reward of success; and job weight in differentiating the remuneration of particular posts; and
the need to maintain a broad linkage between the remuneration of the three main remit groups, while allowing sufficient flexibility to take account of the circumstances of each group.
The Review Body will take account of the evidence it receives about wider economic considerations and the affordability of its recommendations.”
Overseas Visits
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister how many overseas visits he has made since he assumed office ; and if he will list the venue, the duration, the purpose and the cost to public funds of the visits.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 22 July 1993] : The information requested is as follows :
Venue |Duration |Purpose |Cost (£)
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Italy |13-15 December 1990 |European Council |60,805.00
USA |20-22 December 1990 |Bilateral |33,871.00
Saudi Arabia |6-8 January 1991 |Bilateral }
Oman |8-9 January 1991 |Bilateral } |45,098.00
Egypt |9 January 1991 |Bilateral }
France |14 January 1991 |Bilateral |1,857.00
France |20 January 1991 |Bilateral |1,165.00
Germany |11 February 1991 |Bilateral |1,388.00
Soviet Union |4-5 March 1991 |Bilateral |50,352.00
Germany |11 March 1991 |Anglo-German Summit |3,153.00
Bermuda |15-16 March 1991 |Bilateral |24,670.00
Luxembourg |8 April 1991 |Informal European Council |8,107.00
France |24 June 1991 |Anglo-French Summit |10,422.00
Luxembourg |28-29 June 1991 |European Council |45,323.00
Spain |2-13 June 1991 |Holiday |9,560.00
USA |27-30 August 1991 |Bilateral |53,951.00
China/Russia |1-6 September 1991 |Bilateral |196,844.00
France |11-12 September 1991 |Bilateral |10,325.00
Netherlands |18 September 1991 |Bilateral |962.00
Zimbabwe |14-22 October 1991 |Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting |199,488.00
Italy |7-8 November 1991 |NATO Summit Meeting |54,600.00
Germany |10 November 1991 |Bilateral |1,340.00
Italy |27 November 1991 |Bilateral } |7,947.00
Germany |27 November 1991 |Bilateral }
Netherlands |1 December 1991 |Bilateral |1,736.00
Republic of Ireland |4 December 1991 |Bilateral |2,684.00
Netherlands |8-10 December 1991 |European Council |64,371.00
USA |30-31 January 1992 |United Nations Security Council Meeting |58,928.00
Poland |25-26 May 1992 |Bilateral }
Czechoslovakia 26-28 May 1992 |Bilateral } |53,757.00
Hungary |28-29 May 1992 |Bilateral }
Germany |5 June 1992 |Bilateral |1,012.00
USA |6-9 June 1992 |Bilateral }
Colombia 9-10 June 1992 |Bilateral } |318,146.00
Brazil |10-12 June 1992 |United Nations Conference on Environment and Development }
Portugal |25-27 June 1992 |European Council |64,458.00
Germany |6-8 July 1992 |G7 Economic Summit |140,908.00
Finland |9-10 July 1992 |CSCE Summit |41,612.00
Spain |7-9 August 1992 |Olympic Games |79,469.00
Spain |16-17 September 1992 |Bilateral |2,293.00
France |30 September 1992 |Bilateral |4,346.00
Egypt |23-25 October 1992 |50th Anniversary Commemoration of El Alamein |74,616.00
Belgium |23 November 1992 |Bilateral |7,041.00
Italy/Greece |27-28 November 1992 |Bilateral |14,512.00
Luxembourg |30 November 1992 |Bilateral }
Spain |30 November to 1 December 1992 |Bilateral } |14,908.00
Portugal |1 December 1992 |Bilateral }
Denmark |2 December 1992 |Bilateral |9,570.00
Netherlands |6-7 December 1992 |Bilateral } |8,148.00
Republic of Ireland 7 December 1992 |Bilateral }
France |15-16 December 1992 |European Parliament Plenary |7,910.00
Canada |17-18 December 1992 |EC/Canada Talks } |120,775.00
USA 18-20 December 1992 |EC/United States Talks }
Bosnia |22 December 1992 |Visit British Forces |10,828.00
India |23-28 January 1993 |Republic Day Celebrations
Oman 28 January 1993 |Bilateral |179,512.00
Saudi Arabia |28 January 1993 |Bilateral
USA |23-25 February 1993 |Bilateral |46,696.00
Switzerland |5-6 April 1993 |Bilateral |n/a
Austria |6 April 1993 |Bilateral
France |27-28 May 1993 |Bilateral |n/a
Denmark |20-22 June 1993 |European Council |n/a
Japan |5-9 July 1993 |G7 Economic Summit |n/a
n/a=Not yet available.
Deregulation (Construction Industry)
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting held on 20 July with representatives of the deregulation task force on the construction industry.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 July 1993] : On 20 July I chaired a progress meeting on deregulation attended by Ministers and permanent secretaries from regulatory Departments, Lord Sainsbury and all the task force chairmen. We welcomed progress on specific deregulation measures to reduce the burden on business. Ministers agreed to address changes requiring primary legislation as soon as parliamentary time permits. Ministers also agreed to publish “Working with Business : A Code for Enforcement Agencies” and a report on the operation of European Community law in the United Kingdom; to review how duplication between enforcement agencies might be eliminated; to require a small business litmus test of the impact on them of any new regulations; and to set up an eighth task force focusing on charities and voluntary organisations.