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 – 18 November 1992

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 18th November 1992.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Britain in Europe

Mr. Spearing : To ask the Prime Minister what are his reasons for omitting from the booklet “Britain in Europe” a reference to the provisions contained in article K.3 of the treaty on European Union on qualified majority voting on certain decisions relating to foreign policy on security.

The Prime Minister : Article J.3 provides for the use of qualified majority voting for certain implementing decisions in areas of the common foreign and security policy subject to joint action. Majority voting would, however, apply only where member states have explicitly and unanimously so decided. It is not possible to cover all the provisions of the treaty in a 24-page booklet.

 

British-German Meeting

Mr. George Robertson : To ask the Prime Minister what were the costs to the Exchequer of the bilateral British-German meeting at Ditchley park on Wednesday 11 November.

The Prime Minister : The estimated cost to the Exchequer is £57,000.

 

Iraq

Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Prime Minister when Her Majesty’s Government were informed that Iraq’s military capabilities were potentially directed against a country or countries other than Iran.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 16 November 1992] : Prior to the invasion of Kuwait, the assessment made by the United Kingdom, and other countries, including Iraq’s neighbours was that Iraq would use her military strength to bolster her position as a dominant power in the region, but that she would not risk world hostility by aggressive action. That assessment changed when Iraq started to make threats against Kuwait, but it was still thought that Iraq would use the threats to extract concessions from Kuwait, not launch an invasion.

 

Special Advisers

Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the current list of special advisers attached to Ministers stating the Minister they work for and their previous occupations.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 17 November 1992] : There are currently 37 special advisers attached to Ministers. The names of the advisers, the Ministers they work for and their previous occupations before the last general election are as follows :

Name |Minister(s) served |Previous Occupation

—————————————————————————————————————–

  1. Adams |Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |Special Adviser
  2. Bickham |Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs |Special Adviser

Sir R. Braithwaite |Prime Minister |British Ambassador, Moscow

  1. Burke |Secretary of State for the Environment |Special Adviser
  2. Caine |Secretary of State for Northern Ireland |Special Adviser
  3. Cameron |Financial Secretary to the Treasury |Conservative Central Office

Dr. E. Cottrell |Secretary of State for Employment |Conservative Central Office

Sir C. Foster |Secretary of State for Transport |Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  1. Fraser |Minister of State for Overseas Development |Special Adviser
  2. Grantham |Secretary of State for Education |Special Adviser
  3. Gray |Jointly to the Ministers for Local Government and Inner Cities; Environment and Countryside and House and Planning |GNI Ltd.
  4. Green |Prime Minister |Journalist

Professor P. Hall |Secretary of State for the Environment |Special Adviser

Ms. S. Hole |Chief Whip |Special Adviser

Mrs. S. Hogg |Prime Minister |Special Adviser

  1. Kemp |President of the Board of Trade |Special Adviser

Mrs. T. Keswick |Home Secretary |Special Adviser

Mrs. E. Laing |Secretary of State for Transport |Special Adviser

  1. Mackay |Secretary of State for Scotland |Special Adviser
  2. Marsh |Secretary of State for Health |Special Adviser
  3. Mayhew |Secretary of State for Social Security |Special Adviser

Miss S. McEwen |Chief Whip (House of Lords) |Special Adviser

  1. McManus |Secretary of State for Wales |Conservative Central Office
  2. Miller |Secretary of State for Defence |Special Adviser

Dr. J. Nicholson |Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster |John Nicholson Associates

Sir I. Pearce |Secretary of State for Transport |Richard Ellis and English Estates

  1. Poole |Prime Minister |James Capel

Mrs. K. Ramsey |Prime Minister |Special Adviser

Dr. W. Robinson |Chancellor of the Exchequer |Special Adviser

  1. Rock |Secretary of State for the Environment |Conservative Central Office
  2. Rosling |Prime Minister |Special Adviser
  3. Ruffley |Jointly to the three Ministers of State and the Under Secretary of State in the Home Office |Special Adviser
  4. Stewart |Lord President |Special Adviser

Lady Strathnaver |President of the Board of Trade |Special Adviser

  1. True |Prime Minister |Special Adviser
  2. Wilton |Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster |Special Adviser
  3. Young |Secretary of State for Scotland |Special Adviser

 

Matrix Churchill

Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister if he will arrange for the papers supplied to defence counsel in the Matrix Churchill case to be placed in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 17 November 1992] : No. The papers were supplied to the defence for the purposes of the trial. Lord Justice Scott will have access to them.