The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1996Prime Minister (1990-1997)

PMQT Written Answers – 1 February 1996

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 1st February 1996.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Antigua and Barbuda

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the authorities of (a) Antigua and (b) Barbuda to prohibit the right of public access to beaches on these islands.

The Prime Minister: None.

 

Lockerbie

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 9 January, Official Report, column 16, to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) if he will place in the Library the evidence which he claims supports the charges against two accused Libyans in respect of the destruction of Pan Am 103 in 1988.

The Prime Minister: No. Details of the evidence cannot be released as this would prejudice the outcome of a trial.

 

Engagements

Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 February.

Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 February.

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.

 

St. David’s Day

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister what considerations underlie his Department’s decision not to declare St. David’s day a bank holiday in Wales.

The Prime Minister: Successive Governments have kept the pattern of bank holidays in the United Kingdom under review. The introduction of any additional bank holiday must take account of the potential costs and disruption to industry. To declare St. David’s day a bank holiday in Wales would create cost and disruption to businesses both in Wales and elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

 

Mitchell Report

Mr. Wareing: To ask the Prime Minister when a copy of his statement on the Mitchell report was communicated to the Irish Taoiseach; at what time it was (a) sent and (b) received; and what response he received from the Irish Government before to his statement to the House on 24 January.

The Prime Minister: A copy of the text of my statement was faxed to the Taoiseach’s office at about 2 o’clock on 24 January. No response from the Irish Government reached me before I made my statement to the House.

 

Departmental Costs

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the annual telephone costs to (a) his Department,(b) his Department’s agencies and (c) his Department’s non-departmental public bodies staff for each of the years (i) 1979-80, (ii) 1989-90, (iii) 1991-92, (iv) 1993-94, (v) 1994-95, (vi) 1995-96 and (vii) 1996-97; and if internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas of (a) to (c).

The Prime Minister [holding answer 25 January 1996]: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.