The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

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  • PMQT Written Answers – 26 April 1994

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 26th April 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Labour-controlled Local Authorities

    Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 18 April, Official Report, column 370, if he will list the district auditor’s reports referred to; what were the dates and places of the criminal proceedings referred to; and which councils were involved.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 22 April 1994] : Criminal proceedings are a matter of public record. Various district auditors’ reports, for example, which are publicly available, confirm my earlier answers.

     

    Sir Tim Bell

    Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Prime Minister how many contracts the Government have awarded since 1987 to Sir Tim Bell for public relations work; and if he will list their nature and value.

    The Prime Minister : Information on Government contracts is not held centrally and would involve disproportionate cost to obtain. The Department of National Heritage let a contract to Lowe Bell Communications on 24 January to help with its programme of civilian events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-day landings. The value of the contract is £50,000 plus a maximum of £12,500 for expenses, net of VAT. The Department has not let any other contracts to Lowe Bell Communications.

     

    Engagements

    Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 26 April.

    Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 26 April.

    The Prime Minister : This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today.

  • PMQT – 26 April 1994

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 26th April 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Morgan : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 26 April.

    The Prime Minister (Mr. John Major) : 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.

    Mr. Morgan : Does the Prime Minister agree with the words of the Home Secretary to the Institute of Directors convention this morning, when he said that the police, the courts and the prison services were having to pick up the pieces for the failures of others? Does he agree that the word “others” may include those who have been governing this country for the last 15 years?

    The Prime Minister : I have not seen the text of what my right hon. and learned Friend said, but I am sure that he was seeking to convey that the causes of crime are many and varied; that it is not possible to let all the aspects of crime simply be dealt with by the police and others; and that everyone in authority, whatever that authority may be, may have to, and should be prepared to, take their share of responsibility.

    Mr. Rathbone : Will the Prime Minister send a special message of encouragement to South Africa as the democratic elections continue there in order to welcome this final step away from apartheid ? Will he continue to bend his energy to bringing South Africa back into the Commonwealth?

    The Prime Minister : I think that people around the world welcome the elections that are taking place in South Africa and hope that they can be concluded without any more of the violence that has scarred events in the last few days. When the election is concluded and a new multi-racial government is formed, I very much hope that South Africa will decide to rejoin the Commonwealth. As far as this Government is concerned, it will be a very welcome entrant.

    Mr. John Smith : How can the Prime Minister justify his Government’s spending £500 million of taxpayers’ money in fees to private consultants when, as is revealed in today’s Financial Times, only £10 million was gained as a result?

    The Prime Minister : Let me set out some of the points related to that, because I think that the right hon. and learned Gentleman may tend to agree with much of what I have to say about it. The right hon. and learned Gentleman is asking questions that I myself asked, which is the reason why the scrutiny was established in the first place. It was set up because of the growth in expenditure on consultants and in order to find out whether it is good value for money or whether better value for money can be obtained. If it confirms that the expenditure is producing good results, we will maintain it ; if not, we will make the changes required.

    As far as savings are concerned, the spending is on specialist advice to support programmes. It is not a search to find savings especially.

    Mr. John Smith : In other words, it is true : another grotesque waste of taxpayers’ money has occurred. Is not the Prime Minister’s game to delay this and any other bad news until after the local and European elections are over? Why not tell the truth for once before an election?

    Hon. Members : Withdraw!

    Madam Speaker : Order. I believe that I heard the right hon. and learned Gentleman correctly and found nothing unparliamentary in what he said, but would he care to repeat it so that it is clear to all of us?

    Mr. John Smith : What I suggested to the Prime Minister was that for once he should tell the truth before an election.

    The Prime Minister : If there was an intention to hide anything, perhaps the right hon. and learned Gentleman could explain why we established the scrutiny in the first place–it is precisely to determine that the expenditure is conducted properly. However, since the right hon. and learned Gentleman wishes to judge without having seen the report, before the report is completed and without any understanding of the report or what is in it, let me give him a little more information. The examination of where the money is spent includes matters such as helping to design and evaluate weapons systems for the armed forces–not something that the civil service could do–and conducting feasibility studies on technical aspects of the road programme, which is not something that could be done without specialist advice. The right hon. and learned Gentleman should find out some facts before he smears.

    Mr. John Smith : Does not the Prime Minister realise that families all over Britain–the real quiet majority–who are now paying huge tax increases imposed by his Government will bitterly resent this further example of the Government’s now legendary incompetence?

    The Prime Minister : The whole House will have noted that the right hon. and learned Gentleman was prepared to criticise, was wrong and was not prepared to apologise. I am glad at last that he is taking a closer interest in value for money and efficiency. I hope that he will apply the same test to Labour local authorities up and down the country–every single one he knows. If he were really concerned about tax, perhaps he would indicate what aspects of public expenditure restraint he would support. If he were concerned about local authority tax, perhaps he will explain why he and his party oppose compulsory competitive tendering despite the savings that it has made in councils up and down the country. Every single thing that he has said today is bogus.

    Mr. Rowe : Is my right hon. Friend aware that, despite having inherited a remarkably sound economy and having driven up the council tax quite unnecessarily, the Labour-Liberal coalition which runs Kent has decided to cut the police budget? Will he comment on the amazing gap between the statements of the Front-Bench spokesmen of the two Opposition parties and what they do when they have office?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend has made the point very clearly. I am not familiar with the particular illustration that he produced, but there are many similar illustrations of which the House is well aware.

     

    Q2. Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 26 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Callaghan : Is the Prime Minister aware of the statistics that have just been produced by the North West health authority which show a 60 per cent. increase over three years in the number of youngsters aged 18 and under who have to attend hospital for treatment for drug abuse? In view of those alarming figures and the fact that there is a connection between serious crime and drug abuse, as evidenced by the number of murders in our cities, will the Prime Minister tell the House exactly what he intends to do to combat the evils of drug abuse and serious crime?

    The Prime Minister : The hon. Gentleman touches on a very important matter and I am pleased to respond to him. The sum total of expenditure by the Government on drug-related programmes and other matters related to drugs now exceeds £500 million a year. I have asked my right hon. Friend the Lord President to bring together the expenditure all across Government to make sure that we can target it at the right Departments and at the right problems to begin to cope with the problem of drugs, which exists right across the world but which I think every hon. Member would wish us to tackle at the roots as speedily as possible.

     

    Q3. Sir George Gardiner : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 26 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave some moments ago.

    Sir George Gardiner : In the course of his day, my right hon. Friend may have time to look at the final draft of the Conservative manifesto for the European elections. When he does, will he make doubly sure that it emphasises the crucial choice that faces our people in those elections– between Conservative resistance to further moves towards Euro federalism, while we protect British jobs by staying out of the social chapter, and Labour and Liberal eagerness to sign up to anything, to hand over control to the Eurocrats in Brussels and to saddle us with employment costs that would hit directly at British jobs?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend is entirely right. There is a sharp contrast between our policies on Europe and those of both the main Opposition parties, whose policies are almost indistinguishable. We believe in a free trade, deregulated, outward-looking Europe of independent nation states–unlike either of the Opposition parties, both of which want regulation, intervention and more high spending in a federal European state. That is not for us and I do not believe that it is the wish of the British nation either.

     

    Q4. Ms Quin : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 26 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave some moments ago.

    Ms Quin : Following the previous question, and as the Prime Minister feels that he has a lot in common with the four countries that hope to join the European Union next year, will he tell the House how many of them have supported his Government in requesting an opt-out from the social chapter?

    The Prime Minister : I think that one will find that across Europe– [Interruption.] Across Europe, as the hon. Lady knows, countries are recognising that Britain is more competitive because we had the courage to stand up and say that destroying jobs in Europe was not a good idea. There are 19 million people unemployed in Europe; only in this country is unemployment falling. Only this country is becoming more competitive, and that is because we were prepared to say no to policies that destroy jobs and yes to policies that create jobs.

     

    Q5. Mr. Kynoch : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 26 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Kynoch : Although controlling inflation is not an end in itself, does my right hon. Friend agree with me and the many business men in my constituency that it is, however, a precondition for falling unemployment, low interest rates and, ultimately, sound and stable economic growth?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend is entirely right about that. The necessity to get inflation down is self-evident, as is the necessity to keep it down to have the economy growing steadily. As a result of the disinflationary policy that we have followed, we have now had growth for eight successive quarters, unemployment has fallen by a quarter of a million and we have a higher growth pattern than any other nation in the European Community. A CBI survey published this morning showed business optimism continuing to rise. That is a scenario which most other nations in Europe would be pleased to have.

     

    Q6. Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 26 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Williams : On this historic day in South Africa, will the Prime Minister congratulate Nelson Mandela, the African National Congress and everyone else involved in the anti-apartheid movement for bringing democracy at last to South Africa?

    The Prime Minister : I am happy to extend my congratulations to Mr. Mandela, to President de Klerk and to everyone else who over the years has worked towards a non-racial South Africa. That will be welcomed by people across the world, and I hope that it will bring greater stability for South Africa in the future.

    Mr. Jonathan Evans : Has my right hon. Friend noticed the recent extensive and co-ordinated press attention to concerns about the Government’s proposals to deal with new age travellers? Perhaps I can tell my right hon. Friend that the quiet majority in my constituency very much support the Government’s plans as contained in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill, which will give them real protection from those unlawful activities.

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend is entirely right. New age travellers have been an immense nuisance, not least, of course, in the west country over recent years. The legislation proposed by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary will give the police far more powers to deal with them. In view of the difficulty that there has been in the west country, I am surprised that we have not had more support from the Liberal Democrats on that matter.

     

    Q7. Mr. Enright : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 26 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Enright : How does the Prime Minister square the suppression of the sleaze about Westminster on the “Panorama” programme with his aim of open government?

    The Prime Minister : No Government have ever been more open than this one and there is no suspicion of sleaze.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 22 April 1994

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 22nd April 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Stephan Adolphus Kock

    Mr. Cousins : To ask the Prime Minister whether Mr. Stephan Adolphus Kock was at any time between 1 January 1984 and 31 December 1989 in the service of the Government or any of its agencies or wholly owned companies or carried out any functions for, or on behalf of, the Government or any of its agencies or wholly owned companies.

    The Prime Minister : I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 19 April 1994, Official Report, column 432.

  • Mr Major’s Comments at Memorial for James Morrison – 22 April 1994

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s comments at the unveiling of the memorial for Detective Constable James (Jim) Morrison, held on 22nd April 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I am privileged to be here today to unveil this memorial to a young man of great courage.

    You have heard from the Commissioner what kind of police officer Jim Morrison was. He proved his dedication by his courageous actions on 13th December 1991. Despite being off duty, he refused to let a dangerous criminal escape. Despite being threatened with a knife, he continued to chase his assailant.

    Such people are rare. I didn’t know Jim Morrison but I know a great deal about him. One of his greatest strengths was his tenacious approach to crime investigation. He wished to serve his community in the best way he knew – in the finest traditions of the Police Service. He had an aptitude for detective work. He pursued his investigations with great enthusiasm.

    Modern policing is a demanding and responsible service which requires professional commitment and courage. Jim Morrison displayed both qualities by accepting that, even when off duty, his first responsibility was to protect the public against crime whatever the threat to his own safety. It was that commitment and courage which Her Majesty the Queen honoured earlier this year with the posthumous award of the Queen’s Gallantry Medal. And I am honoured to pay my own tribute today.

    We owe so much to police officers like Jim Morrison. Every day – up and down the country – thousands of police officers expose themselves to danger to protect the public. They do so willingly, with dedication and bravery. On behalf of us all, I offer my thanks to them.

    Jim Morrison made the ultimate sacrifice. He knew the danger he faced, but he did not hesitate. He saw a dangerous criminal and he sought to arrest him. It was a brave act by a brave man.

    But Jim Morrison was not only a dedicated police officer. He was a husband, a son and a brother. His friends and family will have their own memories of him and a special sense of loss. No words of mine can properly do him justice, but I know the police service lost a distinguished, dedicated and well liked officer. This memorial will, I hope, remind those who see it of the bravery, dedication and vulnerability of those at the forefront of upholding the law. With respect and gratitude I honour Jim with you today.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 21 April 1994

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 21st April 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Parliamentary Questions

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what guidance has been issued to Ministers regarding the practice of replying to parliamentary questions in terms such as, “I will write to the hon. Member”; and in what circumstances this practice is considered appropriate.

    The Prime Minister : A reply in which a Minister says that he will write to the hon. Member may be given for a number of reasons. It may be used as an interim reply because it is not possible to provide a substantive answer within the time scale laid down, to provide information of specialist or local interest which is detailed or lengthy or where there is a need for discretion in making the full reply available because it concerns a confidential constituent’s case.

    Following a recommendation from the Procedure Committee, first report, Session 1992-93, guidance has been issued that such replies should also state, except where confidentiality is necessary, that copies of the Minister’s reply will be placed in the Library.

     

    Engagements

    Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 21 April.

    Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 21 April.

    The Prime Minister : This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

     

    Tigris and Euphrates Valleys

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what is the latest information to Her Majesty’s Government about malnutrition-related diseases, and the shortage of water-pumps, water-filters and pharmaceuticals in the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates.

    The Prime Minister : In addition to information given to me by the hon. Member himself, and obtained from non-governmental organisations with local knowledge, information is in the most recent reports from the United Nations and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. The reports point out that reliable data are not generally available.

  • PMQT – 21 April 1994

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 21st April 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Ward : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 21 April.

    The Prime Minister (Mr. John Major) : This morning, I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

    Mr. Ward : Will my right hon. Friend unreservedly condemn the continuing attacks on the civilian population of Gorazde by the Serbs, and particularly the outrageous attacks on the hospital there? Does he agree that we must have more effective action by both NATO and the United Nations to protect the UN safe areas?

    The Prime Minister : I believe that my hon. Friend speaks for most people in this country. These attacks have rightly been condemned by European, Russian and American leaders alike. NATO should help the United Nations to give stronger protection to the safe areas, and I hope that the additional troops committed to UNPROFOR and the necessary funds will be made available as soon as possible. The United Kingdom is pressing for a rapid and united NATO response to the Secretary-General’s request for further assistance. That must be based on a thorough military appraisal. We shall also be studying the proposals made by President Clinton last night ; but we must keep the objectives of a negotiated settlement clearly in view, while showing that attacks on UNPROFOR or safe areas will meet with a strong response.

    Mr. John Smith : Would it not have been much better if the Government had properly consulted the D-day veterans in the first place instead of paying £62,000 to a public relations company for what turned out to be very bad advice ?

    The Prime Minister : I am pleased that the right hon. and learned Gentleman enables me to set the record straight on what is happening. Many people will have been concerned over some of the things that they have read, and it is right to tell the House the present position.

    The first discussions with the veterans organisations, including the Royal British Legion, took place in February 1993. The main focus of the programme will be in Portsmouth and Normandy over the weekend of 4 to 6 June. The Archbishop of Canterbury will lead an open air service of remembrance attended by Heads of State and Government from the allied countries that took part in the Normandy landings. There will be similar services in Normandy the following day– [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. The Prime Minister has been asked a question and he is answering it.

    The Prime Minister : I am aware of the great interest in the matter, and it will be of interest to the House and others if I set the record straight. There will be similar services in Normandy the following day, including services of commemoration at the British cemetery and a march past of veterans. Many veterans will be able to attend those events and other ceremonies in Normandy, Portsmouth and right across the United Kingdom. Beyond that, many hundreds of events are still being planned, but the present programme includes church services in towns and villages around the country, parades and marches past by veterans and exhibitions illustrating local involvement in the events of 50 years ago.

    Mr. John Smith : Does the Prime Minister not appreciate that the difficulties have arisen about the so-called civilian side of this anniversary? Does he accept that one way in which the Government could avoid constantly getting things so badly wrong is to consult more widely? In the case of genuinely national events, ought that not be on a cross-party basis? Will that be the approach to the VE-day anniversary next year?

    The Prime Minister : It is a genuinely national event, and a genuinely cross-party event in every sense. I hope that the right hon. and learned Gentleman and other right hon. and hon. Gentlemen will take part in the events to which I referred a moment ago. Let me explain to the right hon. and learned Gentleman and the House why there is a civilian aspect. Although his colleagues groan, that is the question that he asked. As well as commemorating the bravery and sacrifice of those who took part in the Normandy campaign, we also wish to remember the immense efforts made by the whole civilian population leading up to D-day and beyond. That is why we want the commemorations to involve all generations, including our children. I hope that the right hon. and learned Gentleman will share my concern that so few of the present generation understand precisely what happened on that occasion and the fact that we would not have the freedom of speech that we enjoy in the House but for that.

    Mr. John Smith : Bearing in mind the difficulties that have arisen over D-day, but also bearing in mind the fact that the second world war involved the sacrifice by people of all persuasions, will the right hon. Gentleman now undertake that in the planning of the VE-day anniversary there will be genuine cross-party involvement, including the involvement of all parties in this House? Can he give us that undertaking today?

    The Prime Minister : The right hon. and learned Gentleman is entirely right; it is both cross-party and non-party. Neither on this occasion nor on any future occasions will there be any partisan involvement in the celebrations. That is the right way to approach this event; it was the right way to deal with previous commemorations and it will be the right way in future. There is no difference between the right hon. and learned Gentleman and me on that point.

    Mr. Leigh : Did my right hon. Friend notice that yesterday Mr. Jacques Delors declared his intention to render worthless any concessions won by Britain on majority voting rights in the Council of Ministers; in particular, his statement that it was a political declaration not a legal text? He said that he could declare that a reasonable period had been exhausted and that it would last only for another two years, thus driving a coach and horses through any concessions we gained. Will my right hon. Friend, therefore, echo his predecessor in replying to Mr. Jacques Delors no, no, no, especially as my right hon. Friend does not have Lord Howe beside him?

    The Prime Minister : What the President of the Commission said yesterday was that the decision commits member states to act in accordance with the declaration. I can confirm to my hon. Friend that the Council decision taken as part of the Ioannina agreement is legally binding on the Council. If my hon. Friend finds that not satisfactory, he might also listen to other Foreign Ministers. For example, the German Foreign Minister said :

    “Germany itself would regard the decision as binding on the Council”.

    He had no doubt that all other member states of the Union would fully respect the procedures foreseen. That is what we will expect and that is what will happen.

     

    Q2. Mr. Gapes : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 21 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave a few moments ago.

    Mr. Gapes : In view of the serious problem in the health service in London–the cuts, the closures and the increased waiting lists–will the Prime Minister give some hope to my constituents in Ilford who face great problems at the King George hospital? Will he instruct the Secretary of State for Health today to stop immediately any further closures, cuts, reductions or staff losses throughout London?

    The Prime Minister : Since the hon. Gentleman mentions Ilford, I might just mention the capital expenditure on the Redbridge healthcare NHS trust £58 million hospital at Goodmayes, the biggest capital development in the region last year ; the work under way on the Forest healthcare NHS trust £10 million new wing for Whipps Cross hospital, and the great expansion in primary health care right across London. The hon. Gentleman is not very well informed about his own constituency.

    Dame Jill Knight : On the question of D-day, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the fact that thousands of people outside the House believe that once we have paid tribute in dignity to the heroism of those who died, it is entirely appropriate that joy should be experienced with enthusiasm to celebrate the fact that the sacrifices made gave us deliverance from the most inhuman and wicked dictatorship that the modern world has ever known?

    The Prime Minister : I think that my hon. Friend speaks for many people when she says that after one has dealt with the specific matter of commemoration on D-day, millions of people in Britain will wish to give thanks in one form or another in some form of thanksgiving ceremony for the fact that we have the freedoms today that we take for granted.

     

    Q3. Mr. Rendel : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 21 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Rendel : Will the Prime Minister confirm that his party, unlike the Liberal Democrats, believes that band for band is the best way to compare council tax levels between different authorities? Will he further confirm that on that basis Hampshire is the most efficient English county council?

    The Prime Minister : From memory, I think that Hampshire has had the biggest increases in council tax anywhere across the country. However the hon. Gentleman may care to phrase it, if he looks at matters on a like-for-like basis he will find that Conservative-controlled councils are noticeably cheaper than Liberal Democrat-controlled councils and even less expensive than Labour-controlled councils.

     

    Q4. Dr. Spink : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 21 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave a few moments ago.

    Dr. Spink : Can my right hon. Friend tell the House when he was last asked a question on unemployment by the Leader of the Opposition? Does the length of time have something to do with the fact that unemployment has been falling month after month after month, so that there are now a quarter of a million fewer people unemployed than there were a year ago?

    The Prime Minister : It certainly is some time since the right hon. and learned Gentleman last mentioned it. I cannot be precisely sure when it was. I do not believe that he has asked such a question since his hon. Friend the Member for Dunfermline, East (Mr. Brown) said that unemployment would go up month after month after month after month.

    Mr. Clapham : Will the Prime Minister join me in condemning the blackmail tactics used by British Coal to coerce the miners at Tower colliery into accepting its closure? Is the Minister aware that, with the closure of Tower colliery, only 16 collieries are now operating under British Coal management, and the men at those collieries face an uncertain future, as do their families? Will the Prime Minister therefore tell the House today, giving a commitment to those men and their families, that he will adopt for the next four years the redundancy package that British Coal has been operating and which closes on 30 April, so that the miners at those 16 collieries will have a fall-back position if the private venture fails?

    The Prime Minister : With regard to British Coal’s decision to withdraw its closure proposal, as I understand it, the men at Tower colliery sought further discussions with the corporation at which they indicated that they did not wish to oppose the closure proposal. That is my understanding of what has happened and I am pleased that such an agreement was eventually reached.

     

    Q5. Mr. Carrington : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 21 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave a few moments ago.

    Mr. Carrington : What action would my right hon. Friend take over a local authority that has debts of £356 million, more than Gambia, and is being sued for fraud by a bank because of its illegal activities on the money markets and the bank is demanding £20 million in compensation; a council which, through its waste and corruption has cost the council tax payers of Hammersmith and Fulham £250 each and in a local authority which has the third worst record of collecting rents in the country?

    The Prime Minister : The people of Hammersmith and Fulham will have the opportunity to make their own decisions on 5 May. In view of what my hon. Friend has said, they would be very well advised to vote for a Conservative council.

     

    Q6. Mr. Hutton : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 21 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave a few moments ago.

    Mr. Hutton : Are the biggest tax increases in modern British history that will take effect this month the result of the Government’s incompetence in handling the economy or simply their lack of honesty in dealing with the British public at the previous general election?

    The Prime Minister : The hon. Gentleman clearly has not been attending many Question Times over the past few months or he would know that the tax increases were necessary in order to get public finances in better shape, to get Government borrowing down and to ensure that we can sustain a low interest rate level which is helping us in getting back in growth. He will know that, as a result, we now have a growth pattern that is twice as high as any of our main European competitors, that we have inflation at under 3 per cent., that we have exports running at record levels, that we have a stable exchange rate and that we are poised for a long period of sustained, non-inflationary growth–a prospect which this country has sought for many years and which now lies there as a result of the policies that this Government have followed.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 20 April 1994

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 20th April 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Council of Ministers

    Mr. Spearing : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 12 April, Official Report, column 29, concerning the powers of Her Majesty’s Government within the Council of Ministers of the European Community, which articles listed refer to (a) obligatory duties or action as required by the treaties and (b) optional actions.

    The Prime Minister : Whether the treaty requires the Council to act, or gives it a discretion whether or not to act, specific proposals for action made under the articles listed in my previous answer require the unanimous agreement of the Council.

     

    Friendly Countries

    Mr. Byers : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 31 March, Official Report, column 908, regarding friendly countries, which countries and Governments are presently regarded as sharing the United Kingdom’s objectives.

    The Prime Minister : I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member on 31 March at column 908.

     

    Appointments

    Mr. Milburn : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the current members of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

    The Prime Minister : The members of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments are :

    The right hon. the Lord Carlisle of Bucklow QC– Chairman

    The Lord Bridges GCMG

    Sir John Blelloch KCB

    Sir Trevor Holdsworth

    Sir Charles Huxtable KCB CBE

    Sir Robin Ibbs KBE

    The right hon. Peter Shore MP

    The right hon. the Lord Thomson of Monifieth KT

    I have recently appointed the right hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Stepney (Mr. Shore) and Sir John Blelloch, following the retirement at the end of their appointments of Lord Merlyn-Rees and Sir Patrick Nairne.

  • PMQT – 19 April 1994

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 19th April 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Garnier : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 April.

    The Prime Minister (Mr. John Major) : 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.

    Mr. Garnier : During his many meetings with business leaders, has my right hon. Friend ever been asked by even one of them to introduce a minimum statutory wage?

    The Prime Minister : No, in my many meetings I have not yet been asked to introduce a statutory minimum wage, but a number of employers have expressed concern at the prospect. They believe that it would cost jobs and harm competitiveness, and I agree.

    Mr. John Smith : Given the threat of fatal catastrophe that now hangs over Gorazde and the undoubted confusion that sadly attends the efforts of the international community in Bosnia, I suggest to the right hon. Gentleman that a clear statement of future policy objectives is urgently needed. I propose that they should include a redoubling of efforts to secure a ceasefire at Gorazde ; the reaffirmation by this and other countries of their political, military and humanitarian commitment to the area ; and a clear decision by the international community to make safe areas safe, in the knowledge that the United Nations will require to be given sufficient resources to perform that task, but also in the knowledge that those safe areas may offer the only haven to the victims of a brutal civil war.

    The Prime Minister : I have a lot of sympathy with much of what the right hon. and learned Gentleman said. There is no doubt that our objectives in Bosnia have not changed. Last week’s setback in Gorazde–as my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made clear to the House yesterday, it was a setback for the United Nations–does not alter the fact that we wish to secure a complete ceasefire in Bosnia. It should not be forgotten by the House or others that we have established a ceasefire between the Croat and Bosnian forces in central Bosnia as well as in Sarajevo. However, as latest events have tragically shown, the negotiators have not yet been able to extend that ceasefire elsewhere in Bosnia. At the moment, we are considering both here in the United Kingdom and with our partners precisely what needs to be done next. There will of course be meetings among NATO allies tomorrow.

    Mr. John Smith : May I press the right hon. Gentleman on the question of safe areas? Will he undertake to discuss this fully with our partners? The United Nations, having resolved to create safe areas as havens for the victims of war, should resolve to make them possible by committing itself to that purpose and by using the necessary means to achieve it–Britain’s contribution included, of course.

    The Prime Minister : As the right hon. and learned Gentleman knows, we are concerned, and have been for a long time, to secure, as far as it is practicable for us to do so, the safety of people in areas of Bosnia, in Gorazde or elsewhere. Before we make any blanket assurance, we have to consider whether the practical will, not just in the United Kingdom but in other countries as well, exists to release the resources to enable us to do that. We have to be careful before we make any practical assurances.

    Clearly, the objectives that the right hon. and learned Gentleman sets out are objectives that any sensible person would want realised ; but we have to consider what in practice can be done and whether the resources to deliver the objectives set out are likely to be available.

    Mr. Tracey : Will my right hon. Friend join me in condemning the unacceptably high levels of local council debt, particularly among councils controlled by the Opposition parties? I refer to Liverpool and Manchester and to councils in London such as Islington, whose debt amounts to £5,500 per adult in the council’s area. That adds unacceptably to the council tax. What will the Government do about it?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend turns to a point that will be much in evidence during the local authority debates and during the whole local election campaign over the next few weeks. Irrespective of the equitable method of funding local authorities, there is no doubt about which local authorities, under what political control, run up substantial debts : we know that those that are in debt are Labour local authorities. We also know that those that do not adequately collect rents are Labour local authorities. I believe that many people will see the connection between the first and the second.

    Sir David Steel : Returning to the question of future policy for Bosnia, may I ask the Prime Minister to take this opportunity to make it clear that sanctions against Serbia will not be lifted and will not be open to negotiation until there is a full and secure peace settlement in Bosnia?

    The Prime Minister : We have no proposals to change the present sanctions regime, which has been in hand for some time. We have consistently said that the sanctions are in place to try to encourage people to act moderately and reasonably in the future. I have no present proposals to change them.

    Sir Ivan Lawrence : Has my right hon. Friend seen that the reported crime rate for over half the police areas in England and Wales is falling? Is not that evidence that the Government’s law and order policy is working? And is not the fact that the courts have been imposing longer sentences evidence that, by taking the worst offenders out of circulation, the Home Secretary was right to say that prison works?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. and learned Friend is right. There is no doubt about the immense public concern about crime and no doubt about the desire of all parties, in the House and elsewhere, that it should decrease. It has been most encouraging recently to note that, in a number of areas, innovative policing ideas–Bumblebee in the Metropolitan area, but operations in other areas, too–seem to have had a material effect on the crime statistics.

    The most encouraging aspect of the statistics released today is the fact that the drop in crime on a quarterly basis appears to be accelerating. These are just one year’s figures, and we must view them with a degree of caution, but the trend is certainly more attractive than any for some years.

     

    Q2. Mr. Turner : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Turner : In the excitement of last week’s Question Time, the Prime Minister completely failed to answer my question. May I therefore ask it again? In the aftermath of his defeat in the local and European elections, will he continue to limp along with his battle-weary Government, or will he take the honourable path and resign?

    The Prime Minister : I look forward to answering the hon. Gentleman’s questions for a long time to come.

    Mr. Cormack : Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the past few days, some 12 foreign correspondents have had their accreditation withdrawn by President Milosevic, including Sky Television’s chief correspondent, Mr. van Lynden? Is not that further evidence of the evil nature of the Serbian dictatorship and does not it show that it would be a very good thing if my right hon. Friend could meet Presidents Clinton, Mitterrand and Yeltsin at the earliest opportunity?

    The Prime Minister : I know of the expulsions that concern my hon. Friend and I deplore that restriction of press freedom. We have made the Belgrade authorities aware of our views. As for the second part of my hon. Friend’s question, I see no likelihood of an early meeting ; but I assure him that we are in very close touch with each of the Governments and Heads of Government whom he mentioned.

     

    Q3. Mr. Olner : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Olner : Why has not the Prime Minister properly consulted and listened to organisations such as the Royal British Legion and other veteran associations when preparing the events in commemoration of D-day?

    The Prime Minister : I think that the hon. Gentleman is mistaken. There has been a great deal of consultation and discussion; indeed, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage met members of the Normandy Veterans Association and the Royal British Legion this morning, and–as the hon. Gentleman may or may not know–Field Marshal Lord Bramall is part of the committee discussing and organising events for D-day.

    Mr. Evennett : Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the national health service will continue to be available to all, irrespective of age or ability to pay? Will he condemn Opposition Members who are scaremongering, and worrying elderly people in particular? Is not the national health service for everyone in the country who needs health care?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend is entirely correct, and many millions of patients who are treated each day can attest to that. It is undoubtedly the policy that the national health service should in no way discriminate on grounds of age in allocating treatment. It is up to the clinicians concerned, in consultation with colleagues, to decide on the appropriate course of treatment for any patient, whatever that patient’s age; but any patient, whatever his or her age, is entitled to the treatment that he or she needs under the national health service.

     

    Q4. Mr. John Evans : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Evans : Will the Prime Minister join me in deploring the decision of SmithKline Beecham–which made a profit of £1.22 billion last year–to close a factory that has stood in St. Helens for more than 100 years, sack 500 workers and transfer their employment to a non-union, low-pay firm in Devon? Does the right hon. Gentleman agree with me, and with the people of St Helens, that this is the unacceptable face of multinational capitalism?

    The Prime Minister : I must tell the hon. Gentleman that I have no detailed knowledge of what has happened with SmithKline Beecham, and I am disinclined to comment on any case of which I have no such knowledge.

    Mr. Day : Does my right hon. Friend agree that the greatest threat to the things that we hold dear in this country–such as social services and the national health service–comes from the growth of highly competitive economies in the Pacific basin? Do not our party and my right hon. Friend’s approach to Europe provide the only way of dealing with that competition, both for this country and for Europe in general?

    The Prime Minister : I agree with my hon. Friend. We are now operating in an increasingly competitive world. Nowadays, many parts of the world that were once readily prepared to accept British exports are manufacturing the same goods and competing with us in world markets. Unless we become as competitive as possible and keep that competitiveness, we shall lose jobs, income and influence, both economic and political.

     

    Q5. Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 April.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Barry Jones : Will the Prime Minister give stronger backing to Britain’s manufacturing industries? Will he, for example, give help to the British steel industry in the European Union, where the German, Italian and Spanish Governments are cheating? Does he agree that Britain’s steel communities have made their sacrifice in the form of tens of thousands of redundancies and many plant closures and that now is the time for the right hon. Gentleman’s Government to back British steel?

    The Prime Minister : Let me say to the hon. Gentleman that we have raised a number of cases of suspected illegal subsidies with the Commission –the most recent being that of the bankrupt German company, Saarstahl. The Minister for Industry will raise that case again on Friday in the Industry Council in Luxembourg.

    On the more general point raised by the hon. Gentleman, we will continue to press for the fulfilment of existing commitments from the Commission and from member states to end all illegal subsidies in the steel industry. As the hon. Gentleman will know, the Commission has a formal obligation to enforce the treaty of Paris and it has undertaken to pursue actively the monitoring commitments of a number of European Community countries.

    Mr. Hayes : Will my right hon. Friend congratulate SmithKline Beecham on investing £200 million in Harlow, which is good news for this country and which will be the largest project, after the channel tunnel, in Britain?

    The Prime Minister : I see rather earlier than I expected the wisdom of not responding to the question from the hon. Member for St. Helens, North (Mr. Evans) without having the details of the case in front of me. In view of what has been said by both hon. Gentlemen, I will certainly examine the matter.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 18 April 1994

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 18th April 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Allivane

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what papers or communications are retained at 10 Downing Street in regard to the role of Allivane in providing shells and other military equipment to Iraq and Iran.

    The Prime Minister : Copies of correspondence received by my office since November 1990, and to which I or my office have replied, have been retained, as is customary. No records exist prior to April 1989.

     

    Advisers

    Mr. McMaster : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the name and Department of each special adviser employed in the service of himself, members of the Cabinet, Ministers of State, and Parliamentary Under- Secretaries of State; if he will give their educational and vocational qualification, salaries and duties; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Hutton : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 12 April, Official Report, columns 30-31, if he will identify those political advisers who are not employed on civil service grades of pay, the Departments in which they work and the salaries that they receive.

    The Prime Minister : There are currently 38 special advisers attached to Ministers. Details of their names and Departments are as follows :

    Name |Department

    —————————————————————————————————————

    1. Adams |Environment
    2. Allen |Trade and Industry
    3. Barnes |Social Security
    4. Blunt |Defence
    5. Burke |Environment
    6. Caine |Northern Ireland Office
    7. Cameron |Home Office

    Dr. E. Cottrell |Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

    Dr. W. Eltis |Trade and Industry

    1. Fraser |Foreign and Commonwealth Office
    2. Gray |Environment
    3. Grantham |Education
    4. Green |Prime Minister’s Office

    Mrs. S. Hogg |Prime Minister’s Office

    Ms S. Hole |Chief Whip’s Office

    1. Kemp |Trade and Industry

    Mrs. T. Keswick |Treasury

    Mrs. E. Laing |Transport

    1. Loehnis |National Heritage
    2. MacKay |Scottish Office
    3. MacLay |Foreign and Commonwealth Office
    4. Marsh |Health

    Ms S. McEwen |House of Lords

    1. McManus |Employment
    2. Moman |Privy Council Office

    Dr. J. Nicholson |Office of Public Service and Science

    1. O’Connor |Environment

    Sir I. Pearce |Transport

    Lord Poole |Prime Minister’s Office

    Ms K. Ramsay |Prime Minister’s Office

    1. Rock |Home Office
    2. Ruffley |Treasury
    3. Rutley |Office of Public Service and Science

    Lady Strathnaver |Trade and Industry

    1. True |Prime Minister’s Office

    Miss A. Warburton |Prime Minister’s Office

    1. Williams |Welsh Office
    2. Young |Scottish Office

    The duties of special advisers are a matter for the appointing Minister. Details of their qualifications are not held centrally. Salaries for special advisers are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings, and are confidential. They are, however, normally paid on a special advisers’ salary spine of 30 points, ranging from £19,121 to £59,957. Appointments are non-pensionable, and the salary spine reflects this. Of the 38 advisers currently employed, six are paid outside the normal salary spine–three political and three experts. One other, expert adviser, is paid on a civil service scale.

    Mr. Hutton : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 12 April, Official Report, column 31, if he will specify the salaries paid to political advisers in each Department since 1988, expressed in 1993-94 prices.

    The Prime Minister : The salaries of individual advisers are confidential. Information available on the number of advisers in each department in each year since 1988 and the number of advisers on each point of the pay spine in each year since 1988 is in the tables. The salary figures shown against each point in the spine are those current since August 1992.

    Table 1

    Department Number of Advisers

    |1 September 1988 |6 April 1989|30 July 1990|16 September 1991|1 April 1992|20 October 1993|1 April 1994

    ————————————————————————————————————————————–

    Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food:

    |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1

    Cabinet Office (including Prime Ministers Office, Chief Whips Office, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster’s Office)

    |9 |10 |10 |7 |9 |8 |9

    Ministry of Defence

    |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1

    Department of Education

    |1 |1 |1 |2 |2 |1 |1

    Department of Employment

    |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1

    Department of the Environment

    |2 |2 |3 |7 |6 |2 |4

    Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2

    Department of Health <1>

    |3 |3 |1 |3 |3 |1 |1

    Home Office

    |1 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2

    House of Lords

    |- |- |- |- |- |1 |1

    Department of National Heritage

    |- |- |- |- |- |1 |1

    Northern Ireland Office

    |- |- |- |- |1 |1 |1

    Scottish Office

    |1 |1 |2 |1 |2 |2 |2

    Department of Social Security <1>

    |- |- |1 |1 |1 |1 |1

    Department of Trade and Industry

    |2 |2 |1 |2 |2 |1 |4

    Department of Transport

    |1 |1 |2 |1 |1 |1 |2

    Her Majesty’s Treasury

    |3 |3 |3 |3 |4 |2 |2

    Department of Energy

    |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |- |-

    Privy Council Office

    |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |- |1

    The Lord Privy’s Seals Office

    |- |- |- |- |1 |- |-

    Welsh Office

    |- |- |- |- |- |- |1

    <1> Formerly DHSS

    Table 2

    Number paid this amount

    Scale point |Current Salary £ per annum |1 September 1988 <1> |6 April 1989 <2> |30 July 1990 <3> |16 September 1991 |1 April 1992 |20 October 1993<4> |1 April 1994 <3>

    ———————————————————————————————————————————-

    30 (pp) |59,957 |- |- |1 |- | |1 |1

    29 (pp) |57,650 |- |- |- |1 |1 |- |-

    28 |55,433 |1 |2 |1 |2 |1 |4 |5

    27 |54,136 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |- |-

    26 |52,845 |- |1 |- |- |- |1 |1

    25 |51,193 |- |- |- |1 |1 |- |1

    24 |49,541 |2 |1 |3 |1 |1 |1 |4

    23 |47,284 |- |1 |3 |2 |4 |1 |1

    22 |45,527 |1 |2 |1 |1 |- |1 |1

    21 |43,778 |3 |2 |2 |2 |1 |1 |4

    20 |41,947 |1 |1 |2 |2 |1 |- |-

    19 |40,100 |1 |2 |1 |1 |2 |- |1

    18 |38,254 |1 |4 |2 |1 |3 |1 |-

    17 |36,415 |1 |1 |- |- |- |- |-

    16 |34,222 |1 |1 |- |- |- |- |-

    15 |32,827 |3 |2 |- |3 |2 |1 |1

    14 |31,718 |2 |- |- |- |1 |1 |1

    13 |30,613 |- |- |- |1 |- |1 |1

    12 |29,453 |- |- |- |1 |1 |- |-

    11 |28,394 |1 |- |2 |1 |- |1 |1

    10 |27,523 |- |- |- |- |- |1 |1

    9 |26,303 |- |- |- |1 |- |1 |1

    8 |25,374 |- |1 |1 |- |1 |2 |2

    7 |24,548 |- |- |2 |2 |2 |- |-

    6 |23,734 |- |- |- |- |1 |1 |-

    5 |22,902 |2 |1 |2 |3 |5 |2 |3

    4 |21,683 |- |1 |- |1 |1 |- |-

    3 |20,941 |- |- |1 |- |- |- |-

    2 |20,308 |1 |1 |- |- |- |1 |1

    1 |19,121 |1 |- |1 |1 |3 |- |-

    <1> Three special advisers were not paid on the normal salary spine points.

    <2> Two special advisers were not paid on the normal salary spine points and five others were either on secondment or unpaid.

    <3> Two special advisers were not paid on the normal salary spine point and five others were either on secondment, unpaid or on a part-time daily rate.

    <4> Two special advisers were not paid on the normal salary spine points and four others were either on secondment, unpaid or on a part-time daily rate.

     

    Belize

    Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Prime Minister what response he has made to representations from the Government of Belize following the decision of the Greek presidency to eject Belize from observer status at the recent EC meeting in Athens with the San Jose Ten; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : We have protested to the presidency and made clear to others our dissatisfaction at the mishandling of arrangements regarding Belizean attendance at the San Jose meeting. We shall continue to make clear, both to partners and in the region, that Belize as a stable, responsible democracy deserves inclusion in the San Jose process.

     

    Parliamentary Questions

    Mr. McMaster : To ask the Prime Minister how many parliamentary questions to his Department have not been answered because of disproportionate costs or because the information requested was not held centrally over the last five years; how many could be answered now due to computerisation and/or more effective operational systems; and if he will list each such question along with the name and constituency of the hon. Member who tabled it.

    The Prime Minister : I have answered more than 2,000 questions, of which under 2 per cent. from a number of different hon. Members have not been answered because of disproportionate costs or because the information requested was not held centrally. As computer and operational systems continue to improve, doubtless there will be increased potential for this percentage to decline.

     

    Scott Inquiry

    Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library all correspondence between the Cabinet Secretary and Lord Justice Scott further to his letter of 17 March 1993.

    The Prime Minister : The Cabinet Secretary has not had further correspondence with Lord Justice Scott concerning the issues raised in the former’s letter of 17 March 1993.

    Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Prime Minister whether all papers promised by Ministers or departmental officials to the Scott inquiry, pursuant to oral evidence by Ministers or officials have now been delivered to Lord Justice Scott.

    The Prime Minister : Following recent hearings certain material remains to be provided to Lord Justice Scott, but will be sent as soon as possible. Further hearings will take place in May and the provision of material to Lord Justice Scott will continue for some time.

     

    European Union (Qualified Majority Voting)

    Mr. Spearing : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant his oral statement of 29 March, Official Report, columns 797-99 if he will state the treaty or other basis on which the Court of Justice of the European Community would be able to rule that, assuming accession to the Community of all applicant states–any decision reached by at least 68 votes–the Commission would be required to take any necessary initiatives stating the date and place when the document giving the basis for such a ruling was agreed.

    The Prime Minister : The obligation, in the Council decision on qualified majority voting, on the Commission and the presidency to take any initiative necessary to reach a solution adopted by at least 68 votes is justifiable in the European Court of Justice. The text of the Council decision has already been deposited in the Library of the House.

    Mr. Spearing : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral statement of 29 March, Official Report, columns 797-98, concerning extension of a proposal blocking minority of 27 votes in an enlarged European Community Council of Ministers, if he will state, precisely, the nature of the qualifications now agreed, where they are available in written form, and published, and by whom they are authenticated.

    The Prime Minister : The text of the Council decision on qualified majority voting has already been deposited in the Library of the House.

     

    Labour-controlled Local Authorities

    Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe) of 12 April, Official Report, column 17, if he will list the Labour-controlled local authorities he referred to where there is corruption.

    The Prime Minister : District auditors’ reports and the outcome of criminal proceedings have revealed instances of malpractice and corruption in a number of Labour councils.

     

    Civil Servants

    Mr. Hutton : To ask the Prime Minister how many permanent secretaries, deputy secretaries and under secretaries left the civil service and subsequently took up appointments in the private sector since 1979 ; what was the average interval between leaving the service and taking up appointment in the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 12 April 1994] : Precise numbers could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, examination of a substantial sample of applications for approval to take appointments by civil servants in grades 1, 1A, 2 and 3 since 1984 shows an average interval of 3.4 months between leaving the service and proposed date of taking up a first private sector appointment. Not all appointments are necessarily taken up. Applications to take up second and subsequent appointments after leaving are not included in the average.

     

    Disabled People

    Mr. McMaster : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the need for comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation for disabled people.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 15 April 1994] : On a number of occasions, I have not only made clear my support for the principle of seeking to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities, but also my reservations on the detailed practicalities of the present approach to comprehensive legislation. None the less, I shall of course want to see and consider the results of the deliberations of the Standing Committee on the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 15 April 1994

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 15th April 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Iraq

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will seek to arrange for a senior official of the Foreign Office to visit the marshlands of Iraq, in the area where the Tigris joins the Euphrates, to be accompanied by a medical officer experienced in water-borne malnutrition-related diseases and an expert in water filtering and pumping equipment.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 14 April 1994] : Many international organisations and humanitarian workers have sought to visit these areas to aid civilians. However, Iraq has consistently refused to permit access, despite the fact that this is in contravention of the United Nations Security Council resolution 688.