PMQT Written Answers – 7 February 1995
Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 7th February 1995.
PRIME MINISTER:
Engagements
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7 February.
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7 February.
The Prime Minister: This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Constitutional Change
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Prime Minister what constitutional change he proposes should take place in the United Kingdom before the end of the century.
The Prime Minister: Any proposals for constitutional change will be put before Parliament when it is appropriate to do so.
Staff Inquiry
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Prime Minister between what dates Ms Baxendale served on the Scott inquiry team; and if he will list the members and grades and originating departments of the current team.
The Prime Minister: Miss Presiley Baxendale QC has worked on Sir Richard Scott’s inquiry from 18 January 1993 to 31 March 1994 inclusive, and from 2 May 1994 to 13 May 1994 inclusive and thereafter from time to time as the need arises.
The current members of the inquiry team are:
|Department
————————————————————————————————
Christopher Muttukumaru |Treasury Solicitor’s Department (Grade 5)
David Price (Grade 5) |Department of Trade and | Industry
Peter Edwards (Legal Officer) |Inland Revenue Solicitor’s | Office
Karen Wiseman (Grade 7 |Crown Prosecution Service (Legal))
Catherine Southern (Grade 7 |Crown Prosecution Service (Legal))
Christopher Stone (HEO) |Department of Trade and | Industry
Mufassir Mohammed (EO) |Department of the Environment
Sonia Octave (AO) |Home Office
Joanne Bishop (AA) |Home Office
Velma Bernard (Personal |Department of Trade and Secretary) | Industry
Wendy Moore (Personal |Department of Trade and Secretary) | Industry
Downing Street Policy Unit
Mr. Mandelson: To ask the Prime Minister from what sources the head of the Downing Street policy unit is paid; and if he will make a statement on the division of his role in relation to official and party matters.
The Prime Minister: The head of the Downing street policy unit is paid from the Cabinet Office other services vote as a special adviser. Like other special advisers, and like his predecessors under this and previous Administrations, he assists me with work which is partly governmental and partly political.
Coastal Protection
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Prime Minister what funds are available other than funds available through the Department of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the current financial year for coastal protection and repair.
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Official Report, column 85, and my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Official Report, column 12 .
Deception Island
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Prime Minister what plans exist to clean up the site of the former British whaling station on Deception island.
Mr. David Hunt: I have been asked to reply.
Further work on the clean up of the former British station on Deception island is planned for 1996 97, subject to the allocation of funds and the co-operation of the other Antarctic treaty partners involved.
Pay Rises (Utilities)
Mr. Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to establish a committee to examine utility directors’ and chairmen’s pay rises, pension contributions and share options.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 6 February 1995]: No. As I have previously made clear, private sector salaries and other remuneration are a matter for companies and their shareholders to decide, not the Government. We welcome the establishment of Sir Richard Greenbury’s group, which will prepare a code of good practice on directors’ pay and conditions, and the recent contribution made by the Institute of Directors.
Special Advisers
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the severance payments made to special advisers in each of the last five years indicating (a) the amount and (b) the date.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 1 February 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury, Official Report, column 69.