The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1992Prime Minister (1990-1997)

PMQT Written Answers – 16 June 1992

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 16th June 1992.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Street Children, Brazil

Mr. Alton : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his meeting with Mr. Paulo Melo, the president of the Brazilian parliamentary commission inquiring into the killing of South American street children; what representations he made to the Brazilian authorities about the killings and sale of Brazilian children into sex slavery; and if he will take diplomatic and economic measures against Brazil until the Brazilian authorities bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to my statement on 15 June 1992, Official Report, columns 649-64.

 

Engagements

Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 16 June.

Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 16 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.

 

Argentina (Aircraft Sales)

Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his representations in Washington about the sale of United States A4s to Argentina.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 12 June 1992] : We are in close touch with the United States Government on the question of arms sales to Argentina. The United States Government understand our concerns about arms sales which might affect our security interests in the Falkland Islands as do our other allies.

 

Retail Prices Index

Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Prime Minister what has been the level of expenditure in each of the last 10 years on the civil list; how the rate of change annually has compared with the annual changes in the retail prices index; and what payments have been made and to whom in each of these years.

Mr. Newton [holding answer 11 June 1992] : I have been asked to reply.

The information on expenditure for the period 1983 to 1990 is contained in the report of the royal trustees laid before the House of Commons on 15 October 1990 (HC629). As the report explains, the pre-1991 system required voted supplements to be paid annually to the standing services on the Consolidated Fund. It was thought more consistent with the dignity of the Crown and better financial practice to replace that system from 1 January 1991 with a payment fixed at £7.9 million a year for 10 years to cover Her Majesty’s statutory expenses; the arrangements enable any surplus in the early years to be accumulated to meet any subsequent deficit. During the same period, the increase in the retail price index averaged 5.8 per cent. a year.