PMQT Written Answers – 18 March 1996

Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 18th March 1996.

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PRIME MINISTER:

 

Ministerial Responsibility (Bristol)

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the duties of the hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. Evans) in respect of the city of Bristol.

The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth is helping to promote local regeneration in his role as sponsor Minister for Bristol.

 

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what has been the total cost of answering questions to the Prime Minister in each Session since 1989-90;

(2) what was the cost of answering (a) an oral and (b) a written parliamentary question to the Prime Minister from (i) Opposition and (ii) Conservative hon. Members in each parliamentary Session since 1989-90.

The Prime Minister: The information as requested is not available.

 

Overseas Visits

Mr. Hall: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a list of Ministers who have requested prior assent from the Prime Minister under “Questions of Procedure for Ministers”, paragraph 74, for payment from public funds to meet the expenses of spouses accompanying Ministers on overseas visits; and if he will indicate which requests were granted and which were refused for each year since 1990.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 1 March 1996]: Complete records of such requests prior to 1995 have not been retained. The following Ministers were accompanied by their spouses on overseas visits at public expense in accordance with “Questions of Procedure for Ministers” from 1995 onwards.

Country | Minister

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1995

2-10 January Bangladesh/India/ Pakistan Mr. and Mrs. Hurd

25-26 January Paris Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth

30 January–5 February Japan Mr. and Mrs. Heseltine

3-6 February France Mr. and Mrs. Gummer

2-5 March USA Mr. and Mrs. Rifkind

18-19 March Carcassone Mr. and Mrs. Hurd

19-26 March South Africa Mr. and Mrs. Hurd

7-9 April France Mr. and Mrs. Clarke

7-12 April Zimbabwe/South Africa/Namibia Mr. and Mrs. Rifkind

28-30 April Germany Mr. and Mrs. Rifkind

21-31 May USA Sir Patrick and Lady Mayhew

27 May–6 June Latin America Mr. and Mrs. Hunt

17-27 August Caribbean Mr. and Mrs. Newton

12-19 September Russia Mr. and Mrs. Eggar

16-22 September Cuba/Jamaica Mr. and Mrs. Taylor

18-29 September Australia/New Zealand Sir Patrick and Lady Mayhew

29 September–1 October Spain Mr. and Mrs. Clarke

30 August–15 September Asia Mr. and Mrs. Hanley

10-12 October Slovenia Lord and Lady Cranborne

20-22 October Spain Mr. and Mrs. Gummer

1-8 December Australia Lord and Lady Fraser

29 December–10 January UAE/Far East Mr. and Mrs. Portillo

29 December–9 January Indian sub-continent Mr. and Mrs. Howard

1996

2-5 January India Mr. and Mrs. Arbuthnot

15-25 January Hong Kong/China Mr. and Mrs. Nelson

8-15 April Asia Mr. and Mrs. Hanley

12-16 April Bulgaria/Italy Mr. and Mrs. Clarke