The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1996Prime Minister (1990-1997)

PMQT Written Answers – 12 March 1996

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 12th March 1996.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Government Policies (Lichfield)

Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the impact of Government policies on the people of the city of Lichfield.

The Prime Minister: Lichfield has benefited fully from the Government’s policies, which have given this country a stronger recovery than any other large European country and the longest run of low inflation for almost 50 years. Unemployment in Lichfield has fallen by 40 per cent. since its peak.

 

Department of Employment

Mr. Burden: To ask the Prime Minister what functions of the former Department of Employment have been transferred to (a) the Department of Trade and Industry,

(b) The Department for Education and Employment and (c) other Government Departments; and what plans he has for the further transfer of such functions.

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the press notice released by No. 10 Downing street on 5 July 1995, a copy of which is held in the Library of the House. It was subsequently decided that the Department for Education and Employment would have responsibility for work permits.

I have at present no plans for the further transfer of functions.

 

Engagements

Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 March.

Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 March.

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.

 

Children (Exploitation)

Mr. Alison: To ask the Prime Minister what invitations he has received from the Swedish Government for United Kingdom governmental participation in the world congress against commercial exploitation of children, to be held in Stockholm in August; what response has been made to the invitation; and which individuals will represent the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister: We intend to take part in this congress in response to an invitation I have received from the Swedish Prime Minister. The British embassy is in close touch with the organisers in Stockholm, but a final decision has still to be made on the composition of the United Kingdom delegation.

 

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Mr. Sykes: To ask the Prime Minister what changes he has made to the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the parliamentary assembly of the OSCE.

The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend the Member for Rochford (Dr. Clark) has resigned as a substitute delegate to the assembly and will be replaced by my hon. Friend the Member for Harrogate (Mr. Banks). This change takes effect from today.

 

Conservative Party Functions

Mr. Hall: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions upon which Government-owned premises were used for Conservative party functions in 1995, including details of the purposes for which each event was held, the name of each event’s host and the date, time and place of each event.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 1 March 1996]: This information is not held centrally.

 

EU Legislation

Mr. Steen: To ask the Prime Minister how many EU regulations have been passed; how many of these have altered United Kingdom law; and how many have been the subject of the fiche d’impact in each of the last five years.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 11 March 1996]: The table provides a breakdown of the number of European Community regulations introduced since 1991.

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995

Council(15) 335 383 319 274 242

Commission(16) 1,107 1,125 1,055 963 748

Source:

(15) Annual general reports of the activities of the European Communities from 1991-95.

(16) Commission’s CELEX database of Community legislation. The figures exclude short-term or temporary regulations–eg. those measures relating to day-to-day management of agricultural matters. for 1995, the figures include regulations adopted up to 12 December 1995; full year figures are not yet available.

All European Community regulations are directly applicable in United Kingdom law. Information on how many proposals have been the subject of a fiche d’ impact is not held centrally. However, it is the Government’s policy to press for all proposals for Community legislation which may have a significant impact on business to be accompanied by a fiche d’impact.