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 – 14 July 1992

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 14th July 1992.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Construction Industry

Mr. Devlin : To ask the Prime Minister if he will transfer responsibility for the construction industry from the Department of the Environment to the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Prime Minister : No. The Department of the Environment is also responsible for housing and planning and for property holding. The interactions between all these responsibilities mean it makes sense to leave sponsorship of the construction industry where it is.

 

Earth Summit

Mr. Dafis : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to ensure that the “Agenda 21” agreement at the Earth summit is given equal status in legal terms to the general agreement on tariffs and trade.

The Prime Minister : Governments agreed agenda 21 as a dynamic framework for action reflecting political commitment at the highest level. It is not, however, intended to be a legally binding document. My EC and G7 colleagues have endorsed my plan for ensuring that agenda 21 and the other Rio agreements are implemented effectively, including through the preparation of national reports for the UN Sustainable Development Commission.

 

Homelessness

Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Prime Minister what consideration he has given to establishing the ministerial interdepartmental committee to address the issue of homelessness.

The Prime Minister : I am satisfied that the present arrangements provide for appropriate interdepartmental discussions of homelessness as necessary.

 

Public Appointments

Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list any public appointments by his Department since 1987 which have involved people from organisations criticised in published reports by DTI inspectors.

The Prime Minister : The information is not held centrally in the form requested. My Department takes all relevant factors into account when considering such appointments.

 

Departmental Advisers

Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list any advisers retained by his Department since 1987 who have been criticised in published reports by DTI inspectors.

The Prime Minister : None.

 

Mr. Chazanfer Ali

Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Bradford, West concerning Mr. Chazanfer Ali if he will give an assurance that Mr. Ali will be given every assistance to return to the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister : Any entry clearance application from Mr. Ali will be considered on its merits and in accordance with the immigration rules.

Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister what information he has received from the British post in Islamabad about Mr. Chazanfer Ali.

The Prime Minister : On 29 June the British High Commission in Islamabad made inquiries of the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs about Mr. Chazanfer Ali’s circumstances. Once a substantive response has been received I will write to the hon. Member.

 

Babcock and Wilcox

Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 29 June, Official Report, column 593, about the European Council in Lisbon what discussions he had with the Italian Prime Minister on the letter from Babcock and Wilcox.

The Prime Minister : I am pursuing the matter with the Italian Prime Minister. The sanctions imposed by the United Nations against Libya consist of a ban on air links and an embargo on trade in arms and in aircraft and aircraft components. There has been no suggestion that Italy is not applying those sanctions. I am aware of the concern expressed in the letter from Babcock that British companies risk losing trading opportunities in Libya. But we cannot allow the promise of commercial favours to deflect us from our determination to ensure that the Libyans comply in full with United Nations Security Council resolutions 731 and 748.

 

Engagements

Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

The Prime Minister : This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.