The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

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  • Foreign Secretary’s Doorstep Interview in London – 17 February 1994

    Below is the text of the Foreign Secretary’s, Douglas Hurd, doorstep interview in London on Thursday 17th February 1994.

    INTERVIEWER:

    When the Russian President outlined his plans to send Mr Cherkin on his mission to the Serbs, the British Prime Minister urged him on, tonight Ministers were greeting the result as an excellent development.

    FOREIGN SECRETARY:

    This fits in admirably it seems to me with the NATO initiative, they fit well together and if this works out on the ground there is now a much better chance than before of avoiding air strikes because the heavy weapons will have been withdrawn or controlled.

  • Mr Major’s Doorstep Interview on Bosnia – 17 February 1994

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s doorstep interview on Bosnia, held on Thursday 17th February 1994.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked for his reaction to the news from Bosnia].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I had the opportunity of discussing the Russian influence over the Serbs the other day with President Yeltsin, I do welcome this involvement, they have very considerable influence over the Serbs, I very much hope they are going to use their influence, it seems that they are, it seems they may be willing to put some troops in there as well, I think that is good news.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 17 February 1994

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 17th February 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Parliamentary Questions

    Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty’s Government’s policy on providing in full the information sought by hon. Members in parliamentary questions.

    The Prime Minister : Except for matters which are confidential or on which successive Governments have refused to answer questions upon grounds of public policy, or when a reply is not given on grounds of disproportionate cost, answers should give the information sought and should be accurate and truthful and not misleading.

     

    Ministerial Functions (Wales)

    Mr. Wigley : To ask the Prime Minister if he will transfer the functions of the Home Secretary in Wales to the Secretary of State for Wales.

    The Prime Minister : I have no plans to do so.

    Mr. Wigley : To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a list of all functions of Government whose administration in respect of Wales is vested in Ministers other than the Secretary of State for Wales ; which Minister is responsible in each case; and what total amount of public spending is attributable to each of those functions in Wales.

    The Prime Minister : The responsibilities of each Minister of the Government are set out in the list of “Ministerial Responsibilities”, of which all Members have a copy. Where responsibility for matters in Wales does not lie with the Secretary of State for Wales, Ministers in charge of other Departments exercise their responsibilities in respect of England and Wales, or the United Kingdom, as appropriate.

     

    Engagements

    Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 17 February.

    Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 17 February.

    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.

     

    Russia

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Russia.

    The Prime Minister : I visited Russia from 14 to 16 February as part of the regular practice of bilateral summits established by the partnership treaty which President Yeltsin and I signed in 1992. The Foreign Secretary accompanied me.

    In Moscow I had talks with President Yeltsin and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin, and met a number of other Ministers, including Foreign Minister Kozyrev and Defence Minister Grachev. I talked to a cross-section of the newly elected parliamentarians. I also met British and Russian business men. I visited the city of Nizhny Novgorod, and announced new know-how fund projects.

    President Yeltsin and I signed an agreement on the detargeting of nuclear missiles. We also agreed to hold military exercises, focused on peace- keeping, in the United Kingdom and Russia. My right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and the Russian Foreign Minister signed agreements on double taxation and on cultural exchanges.

    President Yeltsin and I agreed that we should build on the partnership between our two countries which is now based on shared democratic values. President Yeltsin has accepted my invitation to visit the United Kingdom this year. I have separately invited Prime Minister Chernomyrdin. I shall be recommending to Her Majesty the Queen that she should take up President Yeltsin’s invitation to visit Russia.

    An important purpose of my visit was to give practical and political support to reform. President Yeltsin and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin assured me that economic reform would continue. But they did not underestimate the scale of the task which they face. It was clear that difficult decisions lie ahead.

    I discussed a range of international issues with President Yeltsin, including Bosnia. These discussions underlined how important it is to maintain a close political dialogue with Russia. I told President Yeltsin that I would support closer political consultation between the Group of Seven and Russia.

  • Mr Major’s Speech in Nizhniy Novgorod – 16 February 1994

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s speech made in Nizhniy Novgorod on Wednesday 16th February 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Thank you very much for your welcome which I very much appreciate. If I may speak for British business we are very keen to expand both our trade and our investment links with Russia in general and of course with Nizhniy.

    It is an important part of our Ambassador’s job, and here he is, to make sure that we increase our trade and investment and where appropriate our Embassy will always be happy to help.

    Let me talk of some other concrete matters. In order to encourage trade from the United Kingdom to Russia we have established very large amounts of export insurance available for British companies.

    We have no barriers at home in the UK against Russian trade. The trade between our two countries has been growing very rapidly over the last two years, indeed your Prime Minister mentioned to me in our discussion yesterday that we were now the third largest trading partner in Russia.

    The best way to encourage trade is between the two private sectors, the private sector in the United Kingdom and the private sector in Russia and I shall certainly advise the private sector in the United Kingdom to look at the opportunities in Russia and the prospects for greater trade. I have no doubt that trade can be dramatically increased and I look forward to it happening.

    There is also the question of investment in Russia by British companies. I believe there is a growing interest in such investment and that interest will undoubtedly become greater as the reform process becomes more established.

    So in summary I believe the trade and investment will grow and speaking for the British side we will do all we can to encourage this.

    QUESTION:

    [Not interpreted].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I think that is a very important question and a very good one.

    Let me set out what I think the foreign investor would wish to see to maximise the chances of investment in Russia. There are several things that will concern them particularly. Politically they will want to be certain that the reform process will continue. Economically they will want to be certain that action is being taken to restrain the level of inflation. They will be looking for some reasonable assurances over the broad level of taxation to be certain that it will not change dramatically. They will be looking for an efficient handling of bureaucracy in all its aspects and they will be looking as far as possible to be certain that they are operating in a climate that is moving increasingly towards free enterprise.

    Many of the things they would have wanted have already been brought about, they will be pleased about the political and economic advances that have been made, they will have been pleased by the liberalisation in [indistinct] they will have been pleased by the convertibility of the Rouble. So a great deal has been done that will encourage and reassure the external investor. But they will be even more reassured if the other matters I have mentioned progress. And it is probable that the volume and amount of their investment will reflect the further changes that are made and there is certainly a great potential out there, not just in Britain but right the way across Western Europe and North America, there is a great potential for further investment.

    The list I have given is not an inclusive list but it touches upon the most important points and I believe these points are increasingly understood by decision makers in Russia.

    QUESTION:

    [Not interpreted].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I could with a little notice, I mentioned some of the areas of assistance, I did not mention all of them and some of the initiatives are specifically for Nizhniy and others cover other areas but will also help Nizhniy. But to give you an illustration: the technical assistance centre that I mentioned a few moments ago that we propose to establish, that costs something in excess of 4 million pounds sterling. I am not sure how many roubles that is today. The secondary market project, that costs around 4.5 million pounds sterling. But British support for Russia as a whole is running at the moment at something over the equivalent of over 1 billion dollars, that sum is partly bilaterally and it is partly our share of resources from the European Community, we pay it to the Community and they collectively pass it on. That is a broad illustration.

  • Mr Major’s Speech in Nizhniy Novgorod – 16 February 1994

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s speech, made in Nizhniy Novgorod in Russia on Wednesday 16th February 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Mr Governor, Ladies and Gentlemen. May I say firstly how delighted I am to be here today. The very fact that I am here addressing an audience of Russian businessmen shows very clearly just how far economic reform has come, just a few years ago such a meeting would have been wholly unthinkable.

    Of course trade is nothing new for Nizhniy Novgorod, as this magnificent trade fair building testifies, and today once again Nizhniy is at the forefront of trade within Russia. You are leading the way in pioneering the new economy and you have some impressive examples of economic reform at work. What Nizhniy does today all Russia may do tomorrow. I believe that Governor Nemtsov and his colleagues are right to be proud of their achievements here in Nizhniy.

    From what I have seen here already, albeit in a very short visit, I know that I do not have to convince the businessmen of Nizhniy of the benefits of a swift move to a functioning free market economy. Here you know that it will give you the freedom to earn fair rewards for your work, but there are others who need to be persuaded.

    The move to a market economy is complex, it is difficult and it does involve temporary hardship for many people, I do not believe anyone should deny that, and that is why explaining the benefits of the free market is not always easy. Explanations do not put food on the family table but I believe that earning a fair wage for a real job will. You, the new entrepreneurs, must help convince the doubters by your own individual success, it is your skills that will enable the country to use its vast potential in human and natural resources. It is your understanding of the market that will help attract inward investment, it is your success that will benefit yourselves and the Russian people as a whole with new products and with new markets.

    We in the West support you and will continue to do so. And one way we can help is the British Know How Fund mentioned a few moments ago by the Governor. There are already a number of successful Know How Fund projects under way in Nizhniy Novgorod, projects to help train your bankers, to help privatise road haulage and to help privatise farms.

    But putting companies in private ownership by itself is not enough, we need them to work together to sustain these new enterprises and to make the most of new opportunities, and to help with this I have in a moment some new initiatives to announce.

    Let me mention some of the initiatives. First, we propose to establish a technical assistance centre through which to channel assistance and help enterprise reorganise on free market lines, it will be set up by British consultants working with Russian personnel and it will also help to attract new investment to the region. Second, in partnership with the international finance corporation we have chosen Nizhniy Novgorod as one of four areas where we have decided to help create secondary markets to enable enterprise to raise domestic investment. The scheme will support the training of brokers and dealers and give people the freedom to trade with their shares. Thirdly, we are developing a retaining programme to help people develop new skills in catering, the retail trade and marketing, we intend to give people a better stake in the reform process.

    We have other schemes in mind as well and this kind of support is just part of a wider picture. But another greater part is to ensure that you have the opportunity to trade with the rest of the world and to do so on equal terms. The United Kingdom has long argued for the removal of trade barriers, we shall continue to work to open European and world markets.

    I do under-estimate the difficulties ahead as Russia reform, but neither do I under-estimate Russia’s potential and the skills and enterprise of the Russian people. I am as keen as you to see that potential realised, realising that potential is in all our interests, it is why Russia looks outwards for opportunity, investment and partnership.

    I believe that is is in everyone’s interest that the West responds positively and helps Russia at this moment. It is in your interest that reform succeeds and it is in the West’s interest that reform succeeds.

    I am delighted therefore to be here today and to play a small part in building that partnership between Russia and the West. Thank you for your hospitality.

  • Mr Major’s Doorstep Interview in Moscow – 16 February 1994

    Below is Mr Major’s doorstep interview in Moscow on Wednesday 16th February 1994.

    QUESTION:

    Prime Minister, what can you tell us about the likelihood of this Royal Visit by The Queen?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    We have been considering for some time the possibility of The Queen visiting Russia, Her Majesty is keen to do it, I believe it is a very good idea. The Russians have now had democratic elections, they have got a democratically elected President, it now seems an appropriate time to proceed with it. It may happen as early as this autumn but final details are not yet arranged.

    QUESTION:

    What do you hope to achieve by this visit of The Queen?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    The relationship between the United Kingdom and Russia has been getting closer over some time, I think that will set the seal on the much closer relationship we now have.

    QUESTION:

    Is it the first visit since the death of the Romanovs?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    So far as I am aware it is the first visit for a very long time, it may even be the first visit ever.

    QUESTION:

    It is quite clear that Mr Yeltsin very much wants this visit, it gives him I suppose a sort of respectability in everyone’s eyes?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I discussed this matter with Mr Yeltsin some time ago, we discussed it again yesterday, there were some more discussions overnight with London and I was able to confirm to him this morning that the visit was on. But we as yet have to agree dates.

    QUESTION:

    Will she be seeing a bit more than just Moscow, a very extensive tour?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    We are looking at the programme now, that is not yet clear how much she will see but I would think certainly more than Moscow.

    QUESTION:

    Have you had a reaction from The Queen?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I have discussed this with Her Majesty in the past, she is keen to make this visit.

    QUESTION:

    What does she hope to get out of the visit herself?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I think The Queen is very keen to visit Russia and see Russia, The Queen is one of the finest Ambassadors the United Kingdom has ever had. I think from that point of view it is highly desirable that she should visit Russia and she is very keen to see it herself.

  • Mr Major’s Joint Press Conference in Moscow – 15 February 1994

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s joint press conference with President Yeltsin, held in Moscow on 15th February 1994.

    QUESTION:

    We were expecting a joint statement on Bosnia?

    MR YELTSIN:

    No, we were not intending to sign a joint statement on Bosnia today, but of course in the tete a tete meeting and in the plenary we certainly discussed it. I must say that in general our positions come very close, they overlap, especially on the handover of heavy weapons around Sarajevo to the United Nations’ forces; and secondly, on the need for negotiations between the Serbs and the Bosnians around the negotiating table to resolve things peacefully and to stop the war in Bosnia. These are our two main concerns, these are the main things on which we agree.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Let me respond to the same question which otherwise I was about to be asked I think over here. The President and I did not plan a joint statement, we certainly spent some time discussing the matter this morning, as did the Foreign Secretary and Mr Kozyrev, clearly it is an extremely important matter. I think there are a large range of areas, as the President has just said, where our policy is entirely identical in terms of seeking a solution to the present conflict in Bosnia. We both agree it has to be a negotiated peace, there is no prospect of there being a military victory, that is not remotely the way ahead. We both entirely support the approach of Dr Owen and Mr Stoltenberg, we see that as the way ahead towards a satisfactory political settlement. Clearly it is important that the United States, that Russia and that all the members of the European Union are involved and use their influence on each of the combatants to try and ensure there is a satisfactory settlement. We think the opportunity does exist to accelerate progress. As the President has said, it is necessary to bring the heavy weapons in Sarajevo under UN control. At the moment with General Rose in command on the ground that is increasingly happening, the heavy weapons are coming under control and that we hope is going to continue over the next few days.

    There is certainly a need for speedy implementation there, happily it seems to be proceeding.

    There is, we think, a real chance of peace starting in Sarajevo, we have seen that develop over the last few days, we need to take that chance, we need to ensure that Russia, the United States and the European Union continue to work together to reach that satisfactory and negotiated settlement.

    I think in some areas there has been some misunderstanding about the NATO decision. Britain was part of the NATO decision and supported the NATO decision, it is a decision that is even handed between the combatants, it is limited to the particular problem of Sarajevo and it is initiated at the request of the Secretary General. Clearly we wish to see a settlement there as speedily as possible and upon the fundamentals of the necessity for a negotiated permanent satisfactory settlement there is no dispute between any of the main players as to the way in which we proceed to get this satisfactory settlement in Bosnia as a whole and around Sarajevo and we spent some time agreeing these main points again this morning.

    MR YELTSIN:

    I would like to add one substantial detail. Some people are trying to resolve the issue on Bosnia without the participation of Russia. That will not succeed, we will not allow that. Russia will take part actively in talks to bring a peaceful solution to the bloody events in Bosnia. I am very glad that Mr Major supports our view on that.

    QUESTION:

    Could I be clear, are you both agreed that if there were to be the need for air strikes, those could take place without further reference back to the UN Security Council?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    The position is as I set it out a moment or so ago. NATO agreed some time ago, we hope of course that the heavy weapons will be brought under control, that seems to be the position at the moment, increasingly that is the case, we hope they can be brought fully under control, we will see whether or not they can. But before any air strikes proceed on this very limited front, as agreed by NATO, there would need to be reference back under previous agreed Security Council resolutions to the Secretary General.

    MR YELTSIN:

    That is being discussed in the UN Security Council at this very moment. The most important thing is to give a mandate to the UN forces so that all heavy weapons around Sarajevo should be handed over. Beyond that, the UN Charter comes into play, if someone attacks UN forces they have to be punished.

    QUESTION:

    What progress has been achieved on the bilateral relationship?

    MR YELTSIN:

    We discussed a wide range of questions with the Prime Minister: the situation in the United Kingdom, the situation in Russia, bilateral relations, international questions and hot spots around the world. In discussing our bilateral relations both of us came to the conclusion that these were the best relations our two countries had had for several decades, the best relations are now. All the agreements that were achieved and all that were signed during my visit to the UK are now being implemented. The UK is seriously supporting the process of reform in Russia in practical terms, not just political but economic. We have had talks this morning, the talks will continue, the Prime Minister will talk this afternoon to the Representative of the government, Mr Chernomyrdin. In any case, in some areas progress is visible and it will grow. For example, the Know How Fund which the UK founded and which is now working, it will see further progress as the Prime Minister will no doubt be saying on Russian television this afternoon.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Can I just add to that answer because I think the question was directed, I believe, at both of us. As the President has just said very clearly the relations that exist bilaterally between the United Kingdom and Russia are better today than at any time either of us can recall, that is true on a trade level, it is true on a political level, it is true in terms of military cooperation. We have discussed a range of things this morning, we have discussed the expansion of trade and economic relations, I will pursue those discussions further with Mr Chernomyrdin this afternoon.

    I shall be making announcements over the next couple of days on specific projects within the Know How Fund which will be of particular help. We have also agreed this morning that we will de-target nuclear weapons, one upon the other, and we have agreed further on joint military exercises between Britain and Russia to take place in 1995, we have agreed we will start in 1995, details will be agreed between our military advisers but we anticipate joint military exercises both in Russia and in the United Kingdom.

    This is a degree of cooperation on a practical level that we have not seen at any stage in the last 50 years. I also took the opportunity this morning of inviting the President to return again to the United Kingdom for a visit and he has agreed to do so and we will be seeking dates in the near future. We have agreed on double taxation agreements, cultural agreements.

    So there is across a wide range, economic, social, political, a much closer, much more effective and a better relationship than either of us can ever remember at any stage in the relations between Britain and Russia for very many years.

    MR YELTSIN:

    I would just like to add two words to that, to compare the dynamics of my visit to the UK and the return visit now, one example, today we have signed a detargeting agreement on the detargeting of strategic nuclear weapons against each other.

    When this was mentioned on my visit it was taken as a hypothetical question, for generations, perhaps even centuries ahead. But now it is a reality, today we see the reality and the reality is that two leaders have for the first time signed an agreement detargeting the strategic nuclear weapons aimed against each other.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 15 February 1994

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Manchester Airport

    Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 10 February, Official Report, column 414 , who will be signing the reply to the chief executive of Manchester Airport plc in regard to liberalising access to regional airports; and if he will place a copy of his reply in the Library.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s private secretary replied on 11 February. It is not my right hon. Friend’s normal practice to place copies of such letters in the Library.

     

    Pan Am 103

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has had from the Government of Malta about the feasibility of staging a trial under Scottish rules of evidence of the two Libyan nationals alleged to have been involved in the destruction of Pan Am 103; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has received no such representations.

     

    Engagements

    Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 15 February.

    Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 15 February.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is in Moscow for a series of meetings including meetings with President Yeltsin and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin.

  • PMQT – 15 February 1994

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 15th February 1994. Tony Newton responded on behalf of John Major.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 15 February.

    The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Tony Newton) : I have been asked to reply.

    My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is in Moscow for a series of meetings, including meetings with President Yeltsin and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin.

    Rev. Martin Smyth : Has the Lord President of the Council noticed the response of Mr. Reynolds in Dail Eireann when Miss Mary Harney asked what representations had been made to the United States over the Gerry Adams visit? His response is that we do not get involved in trying to tell foreign Administrations what decisions to make. Will the Lord President press the Prime Minister to exercise the same restraint with the United Kingdom, especially Northern Ireland?

    Mr. Newton : As the hon. Gentleman will know, the issue of the visa was a decision for the United States authorities, although our own advice, as the House knows, was clear. The hon. Gentleman will know that we believe it to be right and in the interests of all people in Northern Ireland that the British and Irish Governments should work closely together. As he knows, the talks process brings together the two Governments and the main constitutional parties who will work together to find an accommodation. I believe that is right.

    Mr. Day : Would my right hon. Friend agree that the appearance of Gerry Adams on “Walden” proved beyond any doubt that whatever Sinn Fein says, it has rejected the Downing street declaration? Would he join me in urging Sinn Fein to reconsider its position and would he also agree and confirm to the House that the Government will never do what Mr. Adams requests–become a persuader of the people of Northern Ireland to join an united Ireland? Does he recognise that many Conservative Members remain committed to the Union of Northern Ireland and Great Britain?

    Mr. Newton : My hon. Friend will know that my right hon. Friend has on many occasions made clear the position of the British Government on the question of persuasion. Of course, I suspect–in fact, I know–that everybody in the House would urge Sinn Fein to consider seriously a positive response to the joint declaration.

    Mrs. Beckett : As Ministers are still proclaiming that “back to basics” is the lodestar guiding Government policy while the Prime Minister is dodging all questions about it, does that not show yet again that “back to basics” is making the Government a laughing stock?

    Mr. Newton : I do not know whether I am sorry to have to say that the right hon. Lady is a bit out of date. My right hon. Friend has today given a clear explanation of the “back to basics” theme and has once again made it clear that it is especially important in such spheres as standards in education, law and order and the provision of public services, and it applies also to the range of our increasingly successful economic and business policies.

    Mrs. Beckett : I notice once again that the Lord President’s list, and presumably the Prime Minister’s, does not include standards in telling the truth about tax. Why are the Government refusing to come clean about the size of the further tax increases that British families will face in 1995?

    Mr. Newton : What I and my right hon. Friend will continue to emphasise is the contribution that our tax policies are making to the economic strength and improved standards of living in this country.

    Mrs. Beckett : As the Lord President must be aware, my hon. Friend the shadow Chief Secretary has tabled questions about the extra taxes that people will pay in 1995, but no answers are being provided. The Government must have the figures–we know that the Government have the figures–and the people of Britain will have to pay the extra tax, so why do the Government not have the guts to tell people how much they will have to pay?

    Mr. Newton : My right hon. and hon. Friends have answered many questions and will continue to answer the questions that the right hon. Lady’s colleagues ask– [Hon. Members :– “Answer this one.”]–but what we want to know from the right hon. Lady is when the Labour party will come clean about its public spending policies which will put up taxes.

    Mr. Shersby : Is my right hon. Friend aware that the chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue yesterday told the Public Accounts Committee that some £550 million of unclaimed tax remains to be picked up by taxpayers who have been affected by changes in the tax regime in the past couple of years whereby, for example, women are now assessed independently? Is he further aware that amounts to about £880,000 per parliamentary constituency? Will the Government do everything possible to ensure that the Inland Revenue makes that fact known to every taxpayer?

    Mr. Newton : The Government and, I am sure, the Inland Revenue are always anxious to ensure that taxpayers are properly informed of their rights and receive their correct entitlement. I am sure that every effort will be made to achieve what my hon. Friend seeks.

     

    Q2. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 15 February.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Jones : As the real value of pensions has been falling for many years, following the breaking of the link with earnings, the value of pensions in the United Kingdom is out of line with virtually every other comparable European country, the compensation package for value added tax will not compensate pensioners in full as was promised, and we have had extremely cold weather for the past week, will the Government now introduce a special heating allowance for pensioners?

    Mr. Newton : The hon. Gentleman must have a rather curious source for his statistics, because the truth is that not only have the Government protected the real value of the state retirement pension but the combination of our policies on social security and pensions and in the economic world have led to a position in which pensioners’ average real incomes have risen by more than 40 per cent. since the Government took office.

     

    Q3. Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 15 February.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave some moments ago.

    Lady Olga Maitland : Will my right hon. Friend join me in condemning the nonsensical advice given by Liberty to truanting schoolchildren that they should defy police and is it not typical that the Labour party tends to support them?

    Mr. Newton : I would certainly join my hon. Friend in condemning the advice which has been reported in the papers today. The Government’s efforts to improve the campaign against truancy and to succeed in getting errant pupils back to school–which is where they should be–is, and should be, widely supported. For Liberty to oppose it in the way it does shows that it does not remotely understand the best interests of our children or our schools.

    Mr. Jamieson : Will the Leader of the House therefore express his concern that at the end of the March, when the Tory party conference comes to Plymouth, 135 children will miss one and a half days’ schooling because of that conference?

    Mr. Newton : I do not suppose that they will be playing truant.

     

    Q4. Mr. Whittingdale : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 15 February.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Whittingdale : Has my right hon. Friend had time to study the recent annual survey of grant-maintained schools, which shows that since becoming grant maintained the schools have been able to recruit more teachers, improve their results and offer better facilities to their pupils? Does he not therefore find it extraordinary that the Labour and Liberal parties remain committed to the abolition of grant-maintained schools, and that in local government they are waging a relentless campaign of hostility against GM schools, as typified by the behaviour of Essex county council?

    Mr. Newton : My hon. Friend is right that the latest survey confirms the benefit of grant-maintained status. Those schools are achieving improved academic results, better staying-on rates and lower pupil-teacher ratios. They are popular with parents and it is no surprise that well over 1,000 schools have voted in favour of such status. As to my hon. Friend’s worries about Essex–his constituency borders mine–he will be as pleased as I am to know that in Essex there are now 63 secondary and 55 primary schools operating with grant-maintained status. That represents 60 per cent. of secondary schools and 17 per cent. of primary schools. In spite of the endeavours to which he refers on the part of Essex county council, the latest school to decide to hold a ballot on such status is The Notley high school, Braintree.

     

    Q6. Mr. Bryan Davies : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 15 February.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Davies : When my constituents complain about high fuel bills and watch the bosses of privatised utilities coining money, am I to say to them that so far as the Prime Minister is concerned it is nothing to do with him?

    Mr. Newton : The hon. Gentleman’s question appears to be founded on a rather curious premise. Electricity prices have decreased by 6 per cent. in real terms in the past two financial years. If the hon. Gentleman wants to know another interesting statistic, I can tell him that, in 1979, the electricity companies–then nationalised–lost the equivalent at today’s prices of £465 million. In 1992-93, they paid £420 million to the Exchequer in corporation tax.

    Mr. Butcher : Does my right hon. Friend agree that the use of American, French and British planes to bomb the hills around Sarajevo may not necessarily produce lasting peace in Bosnia? Does he further agree that if the idea is to achieve a demilitarised zone, policed effectively, around Sarajevo, the best chances of so doing are by ensuring that Russian soldiers in United Nations uniform, in integrated units with British and French forces, help in the policing of that zone?

    Mr. Newton : My hon. Friend knows well that the purpose of what has been said and what is being considered in relation to air strikes is to bring about the cessation of the type of bombardment that has taken place in Sarajevo. I think that everyone will want that effort to be successfully completed.

     

    Q7. Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 15 February.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Foulkes : Will the Leader of the House confirm that the Government will announce today, by means of a written answer, an increase of 50p in the prescription charge? Why will there be no oral statement in the House ? Is it because, having taxed the disabled and the divorced, the Government are afraid to face the music and announce that they are to increase tax on the sick?

    Mr. Newton : First, I confirm that an announcement will be made today. Secondly, I confirm that it is not usual for such announcements to be made by way of oral statement. Thirdly, 80 per cent. of prescribed items are now free of charge, compared with 60 per cent. in 1979. Fourthly, prescription charges will raise nearly £300 million in the forthcoming year. Fifthly, that amount will pay for more than 200,000 cataract operations or more than 70,000 hip operations. Sixthly, will the hon. Gentleman tell me where he would find the money?

     

    Q8. Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 15 February.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Evans : Has my right hon. Friend had an opportunity to read the report from 3i–Investors in Industry–which surveyed 500 of the companies in which it invests? The confidence of those businesses is higher now than it has been since the 3i started the survey in 1988. Is that not further evidence that the Government have the right policies for British business and the British people?

    Mr. Newton : My hon. Friend is right. The survey shows that firms in both the north and south of the country report greater improvement than in the previous survey and that they have become more optimistic about their prospects. British business is now increasingly confident about the economy and about the Government’s policies for business.

  • Mr Major’s Comments on Russia (III) – 15 February 1994

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s comments on Russia, made during an interview given in Moscow on Thursday 15th February 1994.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if the Russian leadership felt left out over Bosnia].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    No, I don’t think that is remotely the feeling from the discussions I had this morning. There is a vast range of areas where there is complete agreement and has been for some time between Russia, the United States and the other Western Allies over how to deal with the problems of Bosnia. There has, for example, been complete agreement that the only final settlement is going to come about as a result of negotiation; that needs to be so if it is to be a political settlement that will last. There is complete agreement about the need to corral the heavy weapons around Sarajevo and complete agreement that the Owen/Stoltenberg route is the way forward and there is also complete agreement that Russia, the United States and the European Community countries need to use their political influence separately upon the combatants in this dreadful dispute to try and help bring it to an end.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked about Boris Yeltsin’s comments that Russia needed to be part of the solution”.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    He was referring then to a final political settlement and of course Russia is going be involved in it because of the special influence it has.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if Russia still disagreed with the policy of air strikes].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    No. I think there is a much greater understanding of what the position is as a result of our discussions this morning, his previous discussions with President Clinton and also of course the debate that is currently going on in the United Nations. There was, I think, a fear earlier that what NATO was talking about was generalised air strikes. We are in fact looking at specific air strikes specifically in regard to the particular circumstances of Sarajevo.