PMQT Written Answers – 19 December 1995
Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 19th December 1995.
PRIME MINISTER:
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 December 1995.
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.
Chauffeur-driven Cars
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost of chauffeur-driven cars used by his Department was in each of the past five years.
The Prime Minister: No No. 10 staff, other than the Prime Minister, have a car and driver allocated for their use. The total costs of this allocated car, including security costs, Government car service cars allocated to No. 10 and GCS cars on short-term hire were as follows:
1992-93: £470,000
1993-94: £450,000
1994-95: £380,000.
These costs exclude VAT.
The figures for earlier years are available only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what is his estimate of the total cost for himself and other departmental Ministers for each of (a) overseas travel and accommodation expenses of Ministers and their advisers, (b) car and chauffeuring costs of Ministers, (c) ministerial security costs and (d) domestic travel and accommodation expenses of Ministers;
(2) what is his estimate of the running cost of his departmental office, and that of his predecessor, for each year since 1990-91 including an estimate for the current year, broken down into (a) telephone bill, (b) total staff costs, (c) press and communications, (d) entertainment, (e) alcoholic drinks, (f) non-alcoholic drinks, (g) stationery, (h) office refurbishment and (i) other.
The Prime Minister: Expenditure by my Office during 1993-94 and 1994-95 is as follows:
£000 (26)
1993-94 1994-95
Overseas travel and accommodation 1,000 790
Cars, Domestic travel and accommodation 490 440
Telephone and stationery costs 130 90
Total staff costs(27) 3,270 3,200
Entertainment 40 40
Office refurbishment 140 70
Other costs(28) 4,150 3,020
Total costs 9,220 7,670
(26) Figures rounded to the nearest £10,000.
(27) Includes the cost of the Press Office.
(28) Includes security costs; for 1993-94 includes telecommunications costs.
Small Firms
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Prime Minister what meetings his Department has had since May 1995 with organisations representing small firms to review tendering procedures.
The Prime Minister: Since May 1995, the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency has had meetings with the Federation of Electrical Industries and the Computing Services and Software Association.
Goods and Services
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Prime Minister how much his Department paid to the private sector for goods and services in 1994-95.
The Prime Minister: The information is not held in the form requested.
Council of Europe
Mr. Anthony Coombs: To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the composition of the United Kingdom delegation for the 1996 Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The Prime Minister: The 1996 Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will be opened in Strasbourg on 22 January 1996. The delegation from the United Kingdom for the Session will consist of 19 members of the Conservative party, 15 members of the Labour party and two members from the minority parties.
The appointments of representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the parties concerned in accordance with the resolution of the House on 22 May 1992, Official Report, column 682, and of the House of Lords on 18 June 1992, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 290-92.
The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom Parliament at the Assembly of the Western European Union, which next meets in London in February 1996.
Representatives from the Government benches will be:
My noble Friend the Lord Finsberg–who will continue to act as leader of both delegations.
My hon. Friends the Members for:
Warwick and Leamington (Sir Dudley Smith)
Calder Valley (Sir Donald Thompson)
Ashford (Sir Keith Speed)
Medway (Dame Peggy Fenner)
Lewes (Mr. Tim Rathbone)
Bournemouth East (Mr. David Atkinson)
Ravensbourne (Sir John Hunt)
Reading West (Sir Anthony Durant)
The Lord Newall
Representatives from the Labour Party will be:
The hon. Members for:
Wentworth (Mr. Peter Hardy)
Tooting (Mr. Tom Cox)
Wansbeck (Mr. Jack Thompson)
Newham North West (Mr. Tony Banks)
Don Valley (Mr. Martin Redmond)
Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Terry Davis)
The Lord Kirkhill
The representative from the minority parties will be:
The hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Sir Russell Johnston)
The following substitutes have been appointed to act as necessary on behalf of the delegates.
From the Government benches:
The hon. Members for:
Sheffield, Hallam (Sir Irvine Patnick)
Norfolk North (Sir Ralph Howell)
Brighton Kemptown (Sir Andrew Bowden)
Northavon (Sir John Cope)
Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Terry Dicks)
Bridlington (Mr. John Townend)
Newark (Mr. Richard Alexander)
The Baroness Hooper
The Earl of Dundee
From the Labour Party:
The hon. Members for:
Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. James Dunnachie)
Glasgow, Provan (Mr. James Wray)
Newport East (Mr. Roy Hughes)
Easington (Mr. John Cummings)
Leigh (Mr. Lawrence Cunliffe)
Leicester South (Mr. James Marshall)
Manchester Central (Mr. Robert Litherland)
The Baroness Gould of Potternewton
From the minority parties:
The Lord Mackie of Benshie.