The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1995Prime Minister (1990-1997)

PMQT Written Answers – 20 February 1995

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 20th February 1995.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Gulf War Syndrome

Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his reply to the question from the hon. Member for Monklands, West on 31 January, Official Report, column 849 , if he will publish the statement of the Medical Research Council on alleged Gulf war syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, on 8 February, Official Report, column 331.

 

Ian Greer

Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Prime Minister whether all departmental ministers in answering questions on items received from Ian Greer in the last month included all packages and all correspondence from Messrs Ian Greer Associates.

The Prime Minister: It is for individual Ministers to answer questions as they consider appropriate.

 

European Single Act

Mr. Spearing: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the letters received by the then Prime Minister from Heads of Government of member states of the European Community concerning the interpretations of those points of the draft European Single Act treaty concerning controls to be exercised by the United Kingdom at the frontiers between it and other member states of European Community.

The Prime Minister: The acceptance by Heads of Government of the right of member states to take measures necessary for the purpose of controlling immigration from third countries and to combat terrorism and other serious crime was signified by their agreement to the general declaration on articles 13 to 19 of the Single European Act, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Mr. Madden: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle (Mr. Wardle) in the last 15 months, over the opt-out negotiated to the Single European Act over frontiers in 1985; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 16 February 1995]: Meetings and correspondence between myself and my Ministers are confidential.

Mr. Spearing: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 14 February Official Report, column 793, by what article of which Community treaty he expects to maintain a degree of frontier control and inspection in respect of persons and goods arriving from other member states of the European Union similar to that practised in 1992.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 17 February 1995]: The Government take the view that there is nothing in the treaty to prevent the continuation of its practices in relation to persons and goods at frontiers. They base this view on their interpretation of article 7A, read in conjunction with the general declaration on articles 13 to 19 of the Single European Act.

Mr. Madden: To ask the Prime Minister if he will arrange for a copy of legal opinion obtained by the Government in 1991 concerning the legality of the opt-out from the Single European Act negotiated in 1985 permitting the United Kingdom to maintain frontier controls to be placed in the Library.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 17 February 1995]: The advice of the Law Officers is not normally disclosed.

Mr. Madden: To ask the Prime Minister what specimen treaty, providing measures to exclude certain categories of people from entering the European Union, has been approved in principle on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 17 February 1995]: At its meetings on 30 November and 1 December, the Justice and Home Affairs Council adopted a standard format for the conclusion of bilateral readmission agreements between member states and third countries. The documents are available in the Library of the House.