PMQT Written Answers – 27 January 1994
Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 27th January 1994.
PRIME MINISTER:
Public Appointments
Dr. Wright : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the public appointments made by (a) Her Majesty the Queen in Council and (b) the Privy Council; and if he will give details of the appointments made by these categories since 1979.
The Prime Minister : The information requested at (a) and (b) is as follows :
(a) Appointments made by Her Majesty in Council
Members of the Privy Council
Members of the Cabinet
High Sheriffs for the Counties of England and Wales (excluding Cornwall and the Duchy of Lancaster)
Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation
Visitor of Brunel University
Civil Service Commissioners
Visitor of Cranfield University
Visitor of the University of Essex
6 Members of the General Dental Council
13 Members of the General Medical Council
6 Members of the Governing Body of Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
(Until April 1992) Inspectors of Schools in England and Wales Chief Inspector of Schools in England
Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales
Inspectors of Schools in Scotland
Visitor of King’s College, London
3 Members of the Court of the University of Leeds
5 Members of the Court of the University of London
Holder of the Lord Northcliffe Chair at University College, London
Members of the Board of Visitors of The Queen’s University Belfast Visitor of the Royal Postgraduate Medical School
Visitor of the University of Ulster
Visitor of the School of Oriental and African Studies
The Clerk of the Privy Council
The Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council
(b) Appointments made by the Privy Council
2 Members of the Council and 5 Members of the Academic Advisory Council of the University of Buckingham
5 Members of the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine 3 Members of the Court of the University of Kent at Canterbury Chairman and 5 other Members of the General Optical Council 4 Members of the Court of the University of Lancaster
3 Members of the Council of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and Chairman of the Statutory Committee of the Society One Member of the Council of the University of the South Pacific 4 Members of the Court and 3 Members of the Conference of the University of Stirling
3 Members of the General Convocation of the University of Strathclyde
3 Members of the Court of the University of Sussex
4 Members of the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
One Member of the Council of the Royal Veterinary College.
Well over 1,000 appointments under these categories have been made since 1979, and details of the individuals concerned could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Hong Kong
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on discussions held and agreements made with China in regard to safety arrangements and precautionary evaluation procedures for the Crown territories of Hong Kong for the Daya bay nuclear plant near Hong Kong.
The Prime Minister : Talks with the Chinese authorities on the co-ordination of contingency arrangements for an emergency at the Guangdong nuclear power station at Daya bay began in June 1992. A memorandum of understanding was signed with the Guangdong authorities on 22 September 1993 on the contingency arrangements for information release and co-operation in the event of an off-site emergency at Daya bay. Discussions on the arrangements for on-site incidents are still in progress.
Lords Lieutenant
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Prime Minister if he will advertise in the national press vacancies for Lords Lieutenant as and when they become available and give the details of the qualities sought.
The Prime Minister : Lords Lieutenant are appointed by Her Majesty the Queen under the royal prerogative, on my advice.
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 27 January.
Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 27 January.
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.
Malaysia (Hydro-electric Project)
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Prime Minister how many files marked, “Not for NAO eyes”, relating to the Pergau hydro-electric project in Malaysia are held by his secretariat and the Cabinet Office.
The Prime Minister : None.
One-Parent Families
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Prime Minister if the comments made by the Secretary of State for Wales on 10 January, with regard to one-parent families, reflect Government policy; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 17 January 1994] : My right hon. Friend was correct in saying that the single parent issue is important to the Government. The growth in single parent families inevitably has an impact on Government policies. For example, rates of pregnancy among 13 to 15-year-old girls have risen substantially in recent years, which is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has adopted a target of a minimum reduction of 50 per cent. on the 1989 rates by 2000. Similarly, the Child Support Agency was established because of concern about absent fathers and support for children in single parent families.
British Legion Medal
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister if he will recommend Her Majesty the Queen that her permission be granted for any uniformed members of the public services and armed forces who did national service to wear on their uniforms the medal struck for ex-national service men by the Royal British Legion, or the related ribbon.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 26 January 1994] : The medal struck on behalf of the Royal British Legion is unofficial and produced as a commercial venture to raise funds for their Poppy appeal. It would not therefore be appropriate for me to approach Her Majesty the Queen as requested. People who served on national service were eligible for the various official medals approved by the sovereign at the time.