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 – 7 February 1996

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 7th February 1996.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Lockerbie

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the criminal incidents since 1985, other than the blowing up of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, for which Her Majesty’s Government attribute responsibility to Libya.

The Prime Minister: We believe that Libya was responsible for the murder of a number of Libyan dissidents, mainly in the late 1980s, including some in Europe, but none in Britain.

We also believe that Libya may have been involved in other criminal incidents outside the UK, including the bombing of a UTA flight in September 1989. It would not be appropriate to provide further detail.

 

Departmental Expenditure

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the total expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on publicity for each of the years (a) 1979-80, (b) 1989-90, (c) 1991-92, (d) 1993-94, (e) 1994-95 and (f) 1995-96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996-97; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (1) advertising and (2) press and public relations.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 25 January 1996]: For these purposes, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service.

Mr. Bruce: To ask the Prime Minister what is his estimate of expenditure on all forms of hospitality and entertainment by (a) his Department, (b) his Department’s agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, for (i) 1979-80, (ii) 1989-90, (iii) 1991-92, (iv) 1993-94, (v) 1994-95, (vi) 1995-96 and (vii) 1996-97.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 30 January 1996]: For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service.

Mr. Bruce: To ask the Prime Minister what is his estimate of the expenditure of his Department, his Department’s agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all forms of overseas travel, overseas accommodation and other associated expenses for (a) 1979-80, (b) 1989-90, (c) 1991-92, (d) 1993-94, (e) 1994-95, (f) 1995-96 and (g) 1996-97.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 30 January 1996]: For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service.

Mr. Robin Cook: To ask the Prime Minister which Minister (a) took the decision which set the terms of reference for the Scott inquiry, (b) took the decision to appoint Sir Richard Scott to head the inquiry and (c) took the decision to establish the Scott inquiry.

The Prime Minister [holding answer Tuesday 6 February 1996]: The Government set up the inquiry, as I set out in my parliamentary answer on 16 November 1992, Official Report, column 74-75.

Mr. Cook: To ask the Prime Minister if he will act upon recommendations made in Sir Richard Scott’s forthcoming report.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 6 February 1996]: The Government will consider carefully any recommendations made by Sir Richard Scott.