The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1993Prime Minister (1990-1997)

PMQT Written Answers – 2 April 1993

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 2nd April 1993.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Environment

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Prime Minister in how many instances papers for Cabinet and for ministerial committees have included a note of significant costs or benefits to the environment, during the course of the past year.

The Prime Minister : “Questions of Procedure for Ministers”, published in May 1992, states that memoranda circulated to Cabinet or a ministerial committee should, where appropriate, cover any significant costs or benefits to the environment–paragraph 1.2. I do not propose to give details of papers considered by Cabinet or Cabinet Committees.

 

Nuclear Proliferation

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what matters in regard to the control of nuclear proliferation were discussed at his meeting with the President of Turkmenistan on 29 March.

The Prime Minister : During our discussions President Niyazov confirmed to me that all nuclear weapons had been withdrawn from Turkmenistan, in accordance with an agreement between Turkemenistan and Russia.

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister whether he discussed (a) the prospects of Pakistan joining the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and (b) the risks of nuclear proliferation in Asia during his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart on 29 March.

The Prime Minister : Nawaz Sharif and I discussed these matters briefly. The Pakistan Government are well aware of our views.

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 29 March, Official Report, column 46, if he will set out the reasons underlying the assessment of the indefinite extension of the non-proliferation treaty as being in the interests of all signatories.

The Prime Minister : The prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is vital to the security of the whole world. We believe that the non-proliferation treaty represents the best available means of preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and that therefore it is in the interests of all states parties to secure the indefinite extension of the treaty in 1995.

 

Question Time

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy when announcing his engagements to Parliament in Question Time to give details of the persons he has met and plans to meet and the meetings he has attended and plans to attend that day.

The Prime Minister : No.

 

Public Appointments

Dr. Wright : To ask the Prime Minister how many of the appointments made by him as listed in “Public Bodies 1992” came within the categories set out in paragraphs 49 and 50 of “Questions of Procedure for Ministers”.

The Prime Minister : Paragraphs 49 and 50 of “Questions of Procedure for Ministers” cannot concern such appointments as they cover the need for Ministers to consult me on appointments which they make.

 

Egypt

Mr. Alton : To ask the Prime Minister what levels of United Kingdom aid Egypt will receive during 1993-94; what account, in allocating this aid, is taken of the Egyptian Government’s human rights record; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister : Current commitments for 1993-94 are some £5.3 million. We are working with the Egyptian Government to develop new projects in support of economic reform, the environment and education. Human rights and good government are factors which the Government take into account in determining their aid policy.