PMQT Written Answers – 20 February 1996
Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 20th February 1996.
PRIME MINISTER:
Engagements
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 February.
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 February.
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.
Defence Exports
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will change Her Majesty’s Government’s policy of not commenting on detailed matters concerning individual defence exports.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 16 February 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made in the House by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 15 February 1996, Official Report, columns 1139-44.
Honours Nominations
Mr. Harris: To ask the Prime Minister how many nominations for honours have been received in the latest six month period for which figures are available compared with the last six months before the increased publicity was given to the system for public nomination.
The Prime Minister: In the last six months of 1995, 4,316 nominations were received. Statistics for the period leading up to my statement in March 1993 were not kept.
Departmental Running Costs
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what were in each year from 1979 to 1994, in real terms, (a) the running costs of his private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff and (b) the running costs of the Department.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 15 February 1996]: Information on expenditure by my office is not available on a consistent basis for the years between 1979-80 and 1985-86. Expenditure since 1986-87, at 1994-95 prices is as follows:
£ million
Total expenditure Staff costs Other costs
1986-87 7.471 2.514 4.957
1987-88 7.744 2.520 5.224
1988-89 8.780 2.551 6.229
1989-90 9.603 2.703 6.900
1990-91 9.536 2.386 7.150
1991-92 9.454 2.488 6.966
1992-93 10.344 3.043 7.301
1993-94 9.395 3.331 6.064
1994-95 [1] 7.671 3.217 4.454
Information on the running costs of the Cabinet Office is given in the annual report of the “Cabinet Office, Privy Council Office and Parliament”, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
(1) In 1994-95 spending of £0.718 million on communications was transferred from No.10 budget to the Cabinet Office.