PMQT Written Answers – 2 November 1994
Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 2nd November 1994.
PRIME MINISTER:
Public Appointments
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 24 October, Official Report , column 423 , if he will provide a statistical analysis showing the (i) number of people and (ii) proportion of the total register who have volunteered information that they are members of (a) the Conservative Party, (b) the Liberal Democrats, (c) the Labour Party, (d) the Ulster Unionist Party, (e) the Social Democratic and Labour Party, (f) Plaid Cymru, (g) the Scottish National Party, (h) the Democratic Unionist Party, (i) the Popular Unionist Party and (j) the Green Party.
The Prime Minister: Nominees on the public appointments unit’s register are not required to give any details of their political affiliation, but can volunteer it if they wish. Some 87.5 per cent. of nominees do not volunteer any information, and therefore no information about their affiliation is held.
The analysis of those who have volunteered to the public appointments unit the nature of their political affiliation is as follows:
Political party |Number |Percentage
————————————————————————-
Conservative |409 |8.0
Labour |132 |2.6
Liberal Democrats |50 |1.0
Social Democratic Party |46 |0.9
Green Party |1 |0.02
Welsh Nationalist |1 |0.02
Total |639 |12.5
Total number on register |5,095
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 24 October, Official Report, column 423 , if his Office (a) adds information concerning the political affiliation of nominees on the public appointments unit’s register, when it is known but not volunteered or (b) have access to other lists that provide such information.
The Prime Minister: No.
“Questions of Procedure for Ministers”
Dr. Wright: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to revise “Questions of Procedure for Ministers”.
The Prime Minister: I have no plans to do so at present. If the Committee on Standards in Public Life makes recommendations in respect of the conduct of Ministers I will, of course, consider whether “Questions of Procedure for Ministers” should be revised in the light of the recommendations.
Mr. Ghazanfer Ali
Mr. Madden: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the current position in the case of Mr. Ghazanfer Ali detained in prison in Azad Kashmir.
The Prime Minister: We continue to raise this case with the Pakistani authorities and await their response. Officials discussed it informally with Sardar Qayyum Khan of Azad Kashmir on 31 October.
Engagements
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for the evening of 28 May 1993.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 31 October 1994]: I attended a function in my constituency.