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 – 4 June 1996

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 4th June 1996.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Kyle of Lochalsh

Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to pay an official visit to the Kyle of Lochalsh.

The Prime Minister: I have at present no plans to do so.

 

Engagements

Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 June.

Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 June.

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 June.

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.

 

Bosnia

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister if he will consult other Heads of Government about extending the implementation force involvement in former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister: Under the terms of the Bosnia peace agreement, and the United Nations Security Council resolution 1031, IFOR’s mandate expires in December. We expect implementation force IFOR to have successfully completed its military mission by that time. When IFOR leaves, we expect the leaders elected in the forthcoming Bosnian elections to take on responsibility for Bosnia’s future. We remain in constant contact with other Governments on this and other Bosnia-related subjects.

 

Hong Kong (Beef Ban)

Sir Russell Johnston: To ask the Prime Minister what consultations took place between Her Majesty’s Government and the Governor of Hong Kong before the decision was taken by the Hong Kong authorities to ban the entry of British beef into the colony.

The Prime Minister: Hong Kong has autonomy in all trade matters. The Hong Kong Government’s suspension of the import of British beef was imposed after the European Union’s decision to prohibit the export of British beef. In announcing the suspension, the Hong Kong Government made clear that they had taken this decision to restore confidence in the beef market in Hong Kong, and that they did not consider it necessary to restrict the import of British beef on health grounds.

 

Conservative Party (Donations)

Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make representations to the chairman of the Conservative party about the conclusions of the Touche Ross report to the Conservative party of July 1993 in respect of donations to that party of fraudulently obtained money.

The Prime Minister: This does not fall within my responsibilities as Prime Minister.

 

Dr. Trifkovic and Mr. Zametica

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister what meetings his Ministers have had with (a) Dr. Svdja Trifkovic and (b) Jovan Zametica; and what was discussed.

The Prime Minister: None. Mr. Zametica was present when Rajko Kasagic, former Prime Minister of the Republika Srpska, called on my right hon. and learned Friend, the Foreign Secretary and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development during a visit to London on 29 April.

 

Northern Ireland (Talks)

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the advantages for the success of the all-party talks of Sinn Fein taking part in them.

The Prime Minister: The talks will hold out the best prospects for a settlement if they are as inclusive as possible, but only on condition that all those participating are committed to exclusively peaceful methods. We and the Irish Government have expressed the hope that all parties with an electoral mandate will take part in the talks, including Sinn Fein; but we have agreed that they must be limited to parties establishing their commitment to peaceful methods, and that participation by Sinn Fein requires unequivocal restoration of the ceasefire of August 1994.

 

Pay Review Bodies

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the names and occupations of the current members of and the terms of reference of (a) the Review Body on Senior Salaries, (b) the Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine, (c) the Review on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration, (d) the Review Body on Armed Forces Pay and (e) the School Teachers’ Review Body.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 21 May 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 15 May, Official Report, column 457, and to the terms of reference contained in the 1996 reports of the review bodies, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Personal details such as occupations, when published, may be obtained from the standard works of reference.