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 – 28 March 1995

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 28th March 1995.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Astra plc

Mr. Bermingham: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Government Departments which have been in contact with Mr. C. Barlow of Coopers and Lybrand or his colleagues in relation to Astra plc documents.

The Prime Minister: Officials of the inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and officers from the Ministry of Defence police CID have been in contact with Mr. C. Barlow of Coopers and Lybrand in relation to Astra plc documents.

Mr. Bermingham: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Government Departments which have been contacted by Mr. J. Ramasahoye of S. J. Berwin and Co., solicitors, or his superiors, in relation to Astra plc documents; and if he will list those Government Departments who have contacted Mr. Ramasahoye or S. J. Berwin in relation to Astra plc documents.

The Prime Minister: Officials at the investigations division of the DTI responsible for monitoring the inspection of Astra Holdings plc under the Companies Act 1985, have been in correspondence with S. J. Berwin over the production of copy documents from the inspectors.

 

Pepper v. Hart

Mr. Fisher: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the report on the implications of the House of Lords ruling on the 1992 Pepper v. Hart case.

The Prime Minister: The report referred to is an internal document containing recommendations from officials to Ministers. In line with the practice of successive Administrations regarding such documents I do not propose to publish it.

 

Terrorism

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 16 March, Official Report , column 1022, referring to concrete evidence being brought forward and being fully investigated and, pursuant to the Leader of the Houses’s oral answers of 16 March, Official Report , column 1033, alluding to reflection on concrete evidence, what assessment he has made of the telex, a copy of which has been sent to him, involving the special action group of the CIA, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the agency at 48 Westminster Bridge road involving No Home Runs, Pirates and Senators and the Major Charles McKee.

The Prime Minister: I have asked the relevant authorities to look into this matter. I will reply to the hon. Member’s letter shortly.

 

Pornography

Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Prime Minister what inter-departmental committees are considering pornography; what are their terms of reference; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister: I share my hon. Friend’s concern about pornography, and as part of the on-going monitoring and review of controls in this area the Government have established an inter-departmental working group on obscenity. The group will monitor developments in the area of obscenity, with particular reference to emerging trends in child and computer pornography, and will identify any actual or potential difficulties in enforcement or weakness in the relevant law and consider possible ways of overcoming them.

 

Engagements

Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 28 March 1995.

The Prime Minister: This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

 

Press Officers

Mr. Henderson: To ask the Prime Minister how many press officers there are in his Department currently; and what was the figure in 1979.

The Prime Minister: There are currently six press officers in No.10. Detailed records are not available for 1979. The earliest date for which figures are available is 1983 when the number of press officers was five.