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 – 24 June 1996

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 24th June 1996.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Berlin Bombing 1986

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 18 June, Official Report, column 381, if he will ask the west German authorities what progress they have made in their investigations of the Berlin bombing on 6 April 1986, and in particular, on what grounds they have now extradited a citizen of Lebanon to face charges relating to the bombing.

The Prime Minister: Investigation of the “La Belle” discotheque bombing is a matter for the German authorities. However, I understand that the Lebanese authorities extradited a Palestinian, Yassar Al-Shuraidi–alias Yousef Salam–to Germany on 23 May 1996 in connection with the bombing. He was working for the Libyan Peoples’ Bureau in East Berlin at the time of the bombing.

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 18 June, Official Report, column 381, if he will ask the US authorities for what reasons they refused to provide the west German authorities with the alleged evidence of Libyan responsibility for the Berlin bombing.

The Prime Minister: The United States authorities do not normally comment on evidence in a current investigation, especially if doing so might reveal sources and methods of collection, and risk compromising that investigation.

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 18 June, Official Report, column 381, if it remains the position of Her Majesty’s Government that the responsibility for the Berlin bombing rests with Libya.

The Prime Minister: Yes.

 

Transsexuals

Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Prime Minister which Department and which Minister has been assigned overall responsibility for matters concerning the reform of the law as it affects transsexuals; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister: The Government have not made any decisions to reform the law as it affects transsexuals, and no such responsibility has been assigned.