PMQT Written Answers – 5 March 1996
Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 5th March 1996.
PRIME MINISTER:
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 5 March.
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 5 March.
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is carrying out official engagements in the far east.
Sir Gerrard Neale
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister when Sir Gerrard Neale last visited 10 Downing Street; and if on that occasion he telephoned UCB from there.
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have been asked to reply.
I have nothing further to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 29 February, Official Report, column 672.
Ms Eagle: To ask the Prime Minister what facilities have been extended to Sir Gerrard Neale to have access to 12 Downing Street in the last 12 months; and what access he has had to office and telephones there.
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have been asked to reply.
It is not the practice of my right hon. Friend to indicate what meetings he has with Members of Parliament or former Members of Parliament. No office or telephone facilities have been made available to Sir Gerrard Neale at 12 Downing street.
Iraq (Exports)
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister when he was first informed of the 1988 amendments to the 1985 Howe guidelines for defence-related exports to Iraq.
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have been asked to reply.
The first time that my right hon. Friend learnt that a change in the guidelines had been considered in 1988 was in a minute from his private secretary dated 13 November 1992.
Mr. Smith: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 21 February, Official Report, column 169, if he will approach the companies and individuals to which he refers to ascertain whether they are prepared for their names to be disclosed.
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have been asked to reply.
No.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to implement the recommendation made at page 1797 of the Scott report on the use of intelligence by Government Departments.
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the speech made by my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade on 26 February, Official Report, column 589.
Mr. Smith: To ask the Prime Minister which officials from which Departments contributed to the preparation of the press briefing issued by the Cabinet Office on 15 February; what guidance they were given in regard to the matters within the Scott report on which to produce a digest and commentary; which recommendations by Sir Richard Scott according to the digest have already been accepted; and when these recommendations will be implemented.
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have been asked to reply.
Successive Governments have not disclosed the nature or the specific sources of the advice that they receive from the civil service on their discussions with them. The Government’s proposals in response to the recommendations of the Scott report were set out in the speech made by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, on 26 February, Official Report, columns 589-604.
Export Control Licences
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out Her Majesty’s Government’s definition of lethal and non-lethal military equipment as used in the consideration of export control licences.
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have been asked to reply.
Any defence equipment which was designed to kill would clearly fall within the category of lethal equipment. Other equipment has to be considered individually according to its nature and specifications.