The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1995Prime Minister (1990-1997)

PMQT Written Answers – 18 December 1995

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 18th December 1995.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Civil Servants (Briefings)

Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 4 December, Official Report, column 17, on how many occasions in each of the last three years civil servants have provided factual briefing to former Prime Ministers.

The Prime Minister: The information is not held centrally.

 

Procurator Fiscal System

Mr. Welsh: To ask the Prime Minister what further consultations he intends to have before finalising decisions about changes to the procurator fiscal system in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 14 December 1995]: A Crown Office steering group has been carrying out a senior management review of the Crown Office and procurator fiscal service. The extent and nature of any consultation will depend on the outcome of the review.

 

Advertising

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Prime Minister what has been the expenditure of his (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on newspaper advertising by title for each year since 1990-91; and what estimate he has made for 1995-96 based on expenditure to date and existing plans.

The Prime Minister: None.

 

Civil Servants (Contact with Opposition)

Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what preliminary contacts he has had with the Leader of the Opposition regarding official contact between Members of Her Majesty’s Opposition and civil servants from 1 January 1996 onwards.

The Prime Minister: I have nothing to add to the reply that my right hon. Friend, the First Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister, gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan) on 30 November, Official Report, column 835.

 

Departmental Staff (Members’ Letters)

Mr. Steen: To ask the Prime Minister how many officials he employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time in his Department in each of the last three years to answer letters sent to him from hon. Members; and what was the estimated overall cost of replying to them in each of the last three years.

The Prime Minister: For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office, Office of Public Service. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service.