The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Author: admin

  • PMQT – 20 July 1993

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 20th July 1993.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 July.

    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. Coombs : Will my right hon. Friend confirm that today’s report from the Confederation of British Industry, showing the fastest increase in retail sales for three years, is clear evidence of the recovery that is taking place in our economy? Are not those figures the results of an economic policy that is based on low inflation, low interest rates and falling unemployment?

    The Prime Minister : It is a very encouraging report, and the sixth successive increase that retailers have reported. In the past week, we have seen inflation down, unemployment down, manufacturing up and now retail sales up. We have an excellent opportunity to build the lasting recovery that we all wish to see. I do not propose to put that at risk by burdening business with the extra costs that we have spent the past 14 years getting rid of.

    Mr. John Smith : Does the Prime Minister accept the opinion expressed by the great constitutional expert, Professor Dicey– [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. These interruptions use very valuable time.

    Mr. Smith : I had thought that at least some of the hon. Gentleman and hon. Ladies on the Conservative Benches might have heard of him. Does the Prime Minister accept his opinion that

    “the one essential principle of the constitution is obedience by all persons to the deliberately expressed will of House of Commons”?

    The Prime Minister : By some time this evening, the European Communities (Amendment) Bill will have passed the Lords and Commons and will have Royal Assent. That is clearly the will of the House. Why is the right hon. and learned Gentleman seeking to obstruct it? Mr. Smith rose– [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. The House will come to order. There is a great deal of nonsense going on. [Interruption.] I shall remove some hon. Gentleman.

    Mr. Smith : The right hon. Gentleman has answered a question that was not asked. It is a simple principle : does the Prime Minister accept the will of the House of Commons on whatever subject it is expressed? Can he say yes or no?

    The Prime Minister : I might equally ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman–as I just did–exactly the same question, because the clearest possible way to express the will of the House is to pass an Act of Parliament, which will have been done with the Queen’s Assent ratified by the close of business today. I repeat to the right hon. and learned Gentleman : after that Act has received Royal Assent, why is he seeking to obstruct it?

    Mr. Smith : Does the Prime Minister not understand that the question before the House on Thursday night is required by the very Bill to which he has referred? Will he tell us whether the Government will accept the decision of the House whatever it is?

    The Prime Minister : The right hon. and learned Gentleman knows that the House does not support the social chapter. The House genuinely wants the treaty that I signed, and I expect the House to reflect its genuine will in Thursday’s debate.

    Mr. John Marshall : Is my right hon. Friend aware that Hendon school in my constituency was one of the first schools to become grant maintained? Is he further aware that it is now heavily oversubscribed, and does he agree that what is good for Hendon is good for the country?

    The Prime Minister : I think that up and down the country people have indicated that they are in favour of the principle of grant-maintained schools, which have shown that they are very successful. We believe that that choice should be available.

    Mr. Ashdown : I understand why the Prime Minister will want time to study in full the Sheehy report on the police, but will he at least dispose of one of its recommendations now? Does he really believe that the battle against crime will be assisted by cutting our already undermanned police force by a further 3,000 as Sheehy recommends?

    The Prime Minister : With respect to the right hon. Gentleman, he has misread the report. Sheehy does not recommend that. The Sheehy report is independent. We are examining it, and when we have examined it and consulted on it, we will reach conclusions.

    Mr. Burns : Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating the Ministry of Defence on placing more than 90 per cent. of its defence procurement requirements with British companies to protect British jobs and British expertise? Will he please use his considerable negotiating skills to impress on the American Department of Defence that it is unacceptable that British companies are stopped by Acts of Congress from competing in the American market for the supply of items such as image intensifiers which are produced in Chelmsford, thus causing unemployment in a company whose product is the best in the country?

    The Prime Minister : We believe in free trade and an open market in this as in other things.

     

    Q2. Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 July.

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

    Mr. Hughes : Does the Prime Minister recall his aim of a nation at ease with itself? His Government are imposing 17.5 per cent. VAT on domestic fuel and attacking those who are on invalidity benefit, and now there is a cloud over state pensions. How does he reconcile that contradiction, as a nation can never be at ease with itself when there are such attacks on the underprivileged in society? I suggest that it might have something to do with his family’s circus background– [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. This is Prime Minister’s Question Time.

    Mr. Hughes : I suggest that at an early age the Prime Minister was taught to stand on his head– [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. As I have said, this is Prime Minister’s Question Time ; it is not an Adjournment debate.

    The Prime Minister : I am afraid that I did not hear the concluding words of the hon. Gentleman’s speech, but I heard the early part of it. He clearly neglected to mention that last week it was perfectly clear that VAT on fuel was also the policy of the official Opposition and the Liberal party. The official Opposition are still canvassing that. He also neglected in his catalogue many measures that have been taken to help people who are disadvantaged and to reduce tax levels for people on low incomes. Perhaps he should take a more rounded view.

     

    Q3. Sir Roger Moate : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 July.

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

    Sir Roger Moate : Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of us are very much opposed to the Maastricht treaty, but still believe that he scored a great personal and national triumph when he secured the opt-outs from the single currency and from the social chapter so beloved of the Labour party? Quite apart from the costs to industry and the loss of jobs, does he agree that the social chapter would reintroduce the corporatism that did such damage to Britain in the 1970s and before? Will he confirm that he has no intention of ratifying a treaty which contains the social chapter?

    The Prime Minister : I am well aware of my hon. Friend’s long- standing views on the European Community and his disapproval of much of the Maastricht treaty. While I do not share his views, I respect the strength and consistency of his feelings. I entirely agree with him about the damage done by the social chapter. It is an unemployment charter which will destroy our future prosperity. It will prevent the creation of jobs. It is a socialist charter and we want nothing of it.

    Mr. Hume : In the light of the clear evidence that Lord Tebbit publicly encourages terrorism, which emerged yesterday when he spoke on television advising loyalist paramilitaries in Belfast that if they wanted to achieve their objectives they should bomb Dublin, and when last evening those same paramilitaries bombed the homes of my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, West (Dr. Hendron) and two leading members of our party, will the Prime Minister now ask the Home Secretary to implement Government policy, issue an exclusion order against Lord Tebbit and send him to Northern Ireland?

    The Prime Minister : I think that the whole House knows my right hon. and noble Friend very well. He has suffered violently at the hands of terrorists. All his political life he has been a vigorous opponent of terrorism. I may not share his every view, but I believe passionately that he is one of the strongest opponents of terrorism this House has seen now or at any stage in the past.

    Mr. Wells : Will my right hon. Friend take some time to read the leader in the Evening Standard last week which ascribed to his leadership the low inflation, low interest rates and low unit wage costs which are leading Britain out of unemployment and into prosperity?

    The Prime Minister : As my hon. Friend knows, I believe that our prosperity must be based on a low-inflation economy. It has not been easy to achieve ; there have been many sacrifices made by many people and I repeatedly acknowledge that, but we have the lowest inflation rate for 29 years. We need to sustain it and build growth on that low inflation.

     

    Q4. Mr. Jon Owen Jones : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 July.

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

    Mr. Jones : Did the Prime Minister find time to see last night’s “Panorama” programme? If he did, he will have seen disturbing evidence suggesting that dental equipment can transmit the AIDS virus and that in America strong evidence suggests that it has already done so in some cases, and perhaps in many. As The Lancet states that more than 75 per cent. of all dentists in Britain do not routinely autoclave their equipment between patients, is it not time that we regulated and inspected our dentists in order to protect our dental reputation and our citizens when they go to the dentist?

    The Prime Minister : The straightforward answer is no, I did not see the “Panorama” programme last night ; nor has the hon. Gentleman’s point been put to me previously. I have no doubt that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health will have heard about the programme and will be examining its findings.

     

    Common Agricultural Policy

    Q5. Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the impact of the 1993 reforms of the common agricultural policy.

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

    Sir Teddy Taylor : As Sir Simon Gourlay, the former head of the National Farmers Union, has condemned the common agricultural policy reforms as

    “terminal insanity with staggering costs and red tape”, as common agricultural policy spending next year will be £29 billion instead of the £23 billion last year, as the mountain of cereals has broken all previous records, and as the average family is now spending an extra £20 a week on their food, might it be a possible compromise in a difficult week if the Government were to decide to postpone further transfers of sovereignty to Brussels until the common agricultural policy was scrapped or until individual member states could be excluded from it?

    The Prime Minister : As my hon. Friend is a great expert on the European Community, he will know that breaking up the common agricultural policy would be incompatible with the treaty of Rome and with the completion of the single market. But the Government do believe that the common agricultural policy should reflect to a greater extent than at present the needs of the market, the interests of the taxpayer and the dual role of farmers as food producers and custodians of the countryside. In pursuing those objectives, of course we will listen to what Sir Simon Gourlay and many others have to say.

     

    Engagements

    Q6. Mr. Lewis : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 July.

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

    Mr. Lewis : Will the Prime Minister take this opportunity to reinforce statements that he has made in the past that he will not introduce VAT on children’s shoes and clothing and other zero-rated essentials?

    The Prime Minister : When the Leader of the Opposition was asked about his tax proposals some time ago, he said very clearly : “Most Chancellors won’t tell you that. If you ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the range and bands … in his tax Budget he will say, Wait until the Budget’.”

    That was the right hon. and learned Gentleman’s advice–the only wise advice that he has ever given the House.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 19 July 1993

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 19th July 1993.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Gulf War

    Mr. Tyler : To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to be able to provide a substantive reply to the letter from the hon. Member for North Cornwall dated 18 January about the cases of the three Gulf war widows, Mrs. Lyn Hicks, Mrs. Liz Weeks and Mrs. Anne Lennox.

    The Prime Minister : A reply will be sent shortly.

     

    Vietnamese Prime Minister (Visit)

    Mr. Alton : To ask the Prime Minister what specific human rights issues he raised with the Prime Minister of Vietnam during his recent visit.

    The Prime Minister : At my request, the Minister for Overseas Development expressed our concern about Vietnam’s human rights record with the Vietnamese Prime Minister during his visit to the United Kingdom of 3 to 6 July. We also handed over a short list of specific human rights cases.

     

    Child Migrants

    Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 14 July, Official Report, columns 506-7, if he will make available to the Child Migrant Trust personal record files relating to British child migrants for use in confidence in counselling migrants and tracing relatives in the United Kingdom.

    The Prime Minister : I have asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health to write to the hon. Member.

     

    Overseas Debt

    Mr. Meacher : To ask the Prime Minister how many countries which qualify for relief under the Trinidad terms owe money to the United Kingdom; what is their total debt to the United Kingdom; what proportion of that debt could be (a) wiped-out or (b) rescheduled; and what is the total value of debt which could be (i) wiped out and (ii) rescheduled.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 12 July 1993] : Fourteen of the 17 countries that have qualified for Trinidad terms from the Paris club have debt outstanding to the Export Credits Guarantee Department, totalling £774 million.

    Countries receiving Trinidad agreements get debt reduction or debt service reduction equivalent to half the value of eligible debt due over the periods of the agreements. Some £174 million of these countries’ debt to ECGD has been rescheduled under these arrangements, and the equivalent value of the reduction in those countries’ debt to ECGD is therefore around half that figure.

    Of the 17 countries given Trinidad terms, only Nicaragua has debt outstanding to the ODA, amounting to some £0.6 million. Seven of these countries–Tanzania, Bolivia, Uganda, Honduras, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Mozambique–have already received retrospective terms adjustment–RTA– writing off their ODA debt. RTA has also recently been announced for Zambia and Guyana. These agreements, which are awaiting signature, will write off debt of £55.9 million and £53.4 million respectively.

    There are further severely-indebted low-income countries which may qualify for Trinidad terms in future, for example once they have agreed reform programmes with the IMF. The Paris club will also consider giving countries which have Trinidad agreements the equivalent of up to 50 per cent. reduction of the remaining stock of debt, provided they establish track records of debt servicing and economic reform over the periods of the agreements. Under present rules this could produce further debt reduction up to 50 per cent. of the total debt to ECGD then outstanding. But the United Kingdom is pressing the Paris club to go further, in line with my original Trinidad proposals, and give immediate stock of debt reduction of up to 80 per cent. for the neediest eligible countries on a case by case basis. In response to United Kingdom pressure, the recent Tokyo summit asked the Paris club to continue reviewing the question of debt relief for these countries, and especially to consider earlier reductions in their stock of debt.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 16 July 1993

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 16th July 1993.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Heating Costs

    Mr. William Ross : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his estimate of the (a) average, (b) highest and (c) lowest cost of heating a dwelling in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland for (a) the winter months and (b) the summer months, and indicate in each case the cost for (i) solid fuel, (ii) electricity, (iii) oil, (iv) natural gas and (v) bottled gas; and if he will list the locations in each of the countries which were used for samples to estimate these costs.

    The Prime Minister : This information is not held centrally, but the estimated comparative cost of heating two, three, and four-bedroomed homes using different types of fuel and power can be derived from a publication entitled “Comparative Domestic Heating Costs in the UK” published by Sutherland Associates, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

     

    Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant

    Mr. Redmond : To ask the Prime Minister what reply he has given to the letter on the THORP from the Japanese group which visited him on 15 June.

    The Prime Minister : A reply will be sent shortly.

     

    Ministers (Directorships)

    Mr. Cryer : To ask the Prime Minister how many Ministers retain directorships of companies; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraph 107 of “Questions of Procedure for Ministers”. No central record is held of such information.

     

    Northern Ireland

    Mr. Barnes : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 7 June, Official Report, columns 13-14, when he expects to be able to place in the Library the requested document regarding deaths resulting from the security situation in Northern Ireland.

    The Prime Minister : The production of a comprehensive list of people killed since 1968 as a result of the security situation in Northern Ireland, and in related incidents in Great Britain, the Irish Republic and mainland Europe, requires extensive and painstaking research. Information on mainland Europe, which is available only after 1978, and Great Britain is nearly complete and will be placed in the Library in the next fortnight. Work on the remaining information is well advanced, and the completed data will be placed in the Library as soon as they are available.

     

    Yugoslavia

    Mr. Wareing : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the actions taken by the Government of Bosnia-Herzegovina which Her Majesty’s Government consider to have fulfilled the requirements of the London conference, and the ways in which they have failed to co-operate satisfactorily with the international community’s peace efforts.

    The Prime Minister : The Bosnian Government have been unable to realise the objectives of the London conference owing to the actions of their other parties, in particular the Serbs. The international community has repeatedly made clear that it will not accept a settlement in Bosnia which is dictated by the Serbs and Croats at the expense of the Muslims. We hope that the Bosnian Government will soon be in a position to enter into negotiations with the other parties under the co-chairmanship of Lord Owen and Mr. Stoltenberg.

    Mr. Wareing : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the actions taken by the Government of Croatia which Her Majesty’s Government consider to have fulfilled the requirements of the London conference, and the ways in which it has failed to co-operate satisfactorily with the international community’s peace efforts.

    The Prime Minister : While we consider that the Serbs bear the main burden of responsibility for the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, we are also not satisfied that the Croatian Government have so far fully met the requirements of the London conference to achieve a peaceful settlement in Bosnia. European Community Foreign Ministers will be considering on 19 July whether measures should be taken against the Croatians so long as they are engaged in activities contrary to the London conference principles.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 15 July 1993

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 15th July 1993.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Referendums

    Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the dates since 1979 on which Government policy on the desirability of a referendum has been expressed by the Prime Minister in an official capacity; and whether the Prime Minister was in favour in the cases listed in his parliamentary answer, Official Report, 28 November 1991, column 608.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 28 November 1991 at columns 613-14. I supported the views expressed on behalf of the Government by my predecessor. Since then there have been four occasions, all of which referred to European integration, on which I have made the Government’s views clear : 3 June 1992, Official Report, column 830; 18 June 1992, Official Report, column 1037; 16 March 1993, Official Report, column 167; and 30 March 1993, Official Report, column 156.

     

    Tokyo Communique

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what specific steps he intends to take to (a) encourage the multilateral development banks to focus more intensively on sustainable development and (b) incorporate environmental appraisals into project preparation and to make them publicly available, as stated at paragraph 8 of the G7 communique from Tokyo on 9 July.

    The Prime Minister : Following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in June 1992 the Government have supported a wide range of improvements in this area. For the International Development Association of the World bank, details are set out in the report on the 10th replenishment which the House approved on 12 July. Negotiations on the sixth replenishment of the African Development Fund and the capital resources of the Inter-American and Asian development banks are currently in progress. We are also actively working for agreement by the World bank board to proposals to make more information on its projects publicly available, including environmental assessments : a decision is expected soon.

     

    Ministerial Responsibilities

    Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister what consideration he has given to the appointment of a senior Minister as (a) a Minister with special responsibility for young people and (b) a Minister with special responsibility for older people; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his similar question on 14 November 1991 at column 639 about designating a Minister with responsibility for young people. Similarly, issues facing older people are not specific to that age group. Appointing a Minister with special responsibility to look after such groups would diffuse responsibilities for particular aspects of policy which presently fall clearly on each departmental Minister.

     

    Yugoslavia

    Mr. Wareing : To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made towards holding a further meeting of the London conference on former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : The steering committee of the international conference on the former Yugoslavia met at senior official level in Geneva on 1 July. There are currently no plans to hold a further meeting, at either official or ministerial level, but the co-chairmen are keeping this under review.

    Mr. Wareing : To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made in placing monitors on the border between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : Following the adoption of United Nations Security Council resolution 838, the Secretary-General submitted to the Security Council a report on the options for deployment of international border monitors on the border between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia/Montenegro. Following full discussion of the report in the Security Council, the President of the Council replied, asking the Secretary-General to investigate whether the states involved were willing to co-operate in the deployment of monitors and, if so, which member states of the United Nations would be prepared to contribute monitors. We await the outcome of these soundings.

  • PMQT – 15 July 1993

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 15th July 1993.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Waterson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

    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. Waterson : Will my right hon. Friend join me in welcoming not only the lowest inflation rate for 30 years, but the fifth successive monthly fall in unemployment? Does he agree that the House deserves an apology from the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East (Mr. Brown) for predicting a steady rise in unemployment over the spring and summer?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend is unkind to remind the House of the predictions by the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East. There have been a great deal of them–all wrong. If it would be for the convenience of the House, I will place a copy of them in the Library. The further fall in unemployment and inflation is very good news indeed. Unemployment has fallen by over 80,000 since the beginning of the year, and, taken with the remarkable figures on Tuesday for manufacturing output, we can now say with some certainty that there is clear evidence of recovery gathering pace.

    Mr. John Smith : Does the Prime Minister accept that it should be for the House to decide whether the social chapter is included in the British version of the Maastricht treaty?

    The Prime Minister : The House has examined the whole of the treaty. I expect to ratify the treaty that I signed at Maastricht. The House has shown its support for the treaty ; I expect that it will do so again.

    Mr. John Smith : The Prime Minister has carefully not answered the question. Let me put it to him plainly and clearly. Whichever way the House votes on the social chapter, will the Government accept the decision?

    The Prime Minister : I have said to the right hon. and learned Gentleman before, and I repeat, that I expect the Government’s motion to be carried, and I expect to ratify the treaty that I signed.

    Mr. John Smith : The House and the country will have noticed another failure to answer the question directly. Does the Prime Minister understand that, were he to defy the will of the House of Commons, it would be a monstrous violation of the rights of the House, and would at one fell swoop undermine our parliamentary democracy?

    The Prime Minister : The right hon. and learned Gentleman perhaps does not understand the answers. I will make them more clear for him, so that he is in no doubt. We expect to ratify the treaty that I signed at Maastricht. The House has shown its support for the treaty ; I expect it to do so again.

    Mr. Lamont : This month, like last, has seen a remarkable catalogue of good economic indicators. Is it not the case that, in addition to the fifth fall in monthly unemployment, we have seen the largest increase in industrial production for four years and the lowest inflation record for nearly 30 years? When one puts that into a European context and sees that Britain has a lower than average rate of inflation in the European Community, is the only country in the European Community in which unemployment is falling, and is the only country in the European Community in which industrial production is rising, I congratulate the new Chancellor on the rapid success of his policies.

    The Prime Minister : I know that my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be most grateful for my right hon. Friend’s support for his policies. It is entirely clear that we are coming out of recession and into recovery. It is equally clear that we are leading Europe into recovery.

    Mr. Ashdown : Will the Prime Minister reflect on the fact that the Government have said to their rebels that nothing will stop them from ratifying the Maastricht treaty, but they have said to the House that adopting the social chapter would jeopardise the treaty? Both statements cannot be true ; which is?

    The Prime Minister : I think that the right hon. Gentleman has forgotten what he said about the social chapter. [Interruption.] I am glad that the right hon. Gentleman has not forgotten, but perhaps I can remind the House what he said :

    “I believe what is now being put forward in the social chapter may well lead to a form of Euro-sclerosis.”

    He continued :

    “The social chapter in the Maastricht agreement, it seems to me, is a really worrying attempt by Europe to try and rebuild in Britain the things that we have dismantled over the last 12 or 15 years.” If that is the view of the right hon. Gentleman and his party, and he is true to his view, I shall expect to see him in our Lobby next Thursday.

     

    Portsmouth

    Q2. Mr. David Martin : To ask the Prime Minister whether he has plans to pay an official visit to Portsmouth.

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

    Mr. Martin : Does my right hon. Friend recall that he has not visited Portsmouth since the general election, at a time when the so-called poll experts were predicting not only a Government defeat in general but, even more shamefully, the loss of my seat in particular? Will my right hon. Friend visit us again soon, preferably in the 50th anniversary year of D- day? Such a visit would not only mark the premier naval port of Portsmouth’s vital contribution to our defence needs in the past, but mark its present contribution and the efforts it will make for many years in the future.

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend is an extremely forceful advocate for Portsmouth, and I am grateful for his invitation. I understand how important the defence industry is to his constituents, and I hope that he will take every opportunity to remind them of two facts : that the Labour party would cut defence spending by a quarter, and that the Liberal Democrats would cut it by half. We hear a lot from the leader of the Liberal Democrats about taking military action in Bosnia ; we hear rather less from him about how we would be able to take that action after his policy had dismantled the Army, the Navy and the Royal Air Force.

     

    Engagements

    Q3. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

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

    Mr. McAllion : Is the Prime Minister aware that, because of the legal shackles on British trades unions, this week sacked Timex workers were banned from taking part in the national launch of the Timex boycott campaign, and banned from calling on the support of other British trade unionists?

    What is banned here is legal elsewhere in Europe. Sacked Timex workers have been in France this week, exercising the democratic rights denied to them in their own country. Is the Prime Minister not ashamed of the Government’s record on labour law, which has isolated Britain in Europe and left British workers on their own, with no social chapter, no wages councils and no effective right to strike? The Government have turned Britain, once one of the workshops of the world, into one of the world’s sweatshop economies.

    The Prime Minister : The sort of behaviour that we saw from trade unionists at Timex is nothing for the hon. Gentleman to be proud of. I dare say that the jobs lost at Timex as a result will stand as the clearest evidence that the hon. Gentleman’s policy is utterly the wrong way to look at labour and trade union relationships.

     

    Q4. Mr. Kynoch : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

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

    Mr. Kynoch : Will my right hon. Friend thank and congratulate the anti-terrorist branch and MI5 for its continuing efforts to protect the public from terrorist crimes, and especially their efforts yesterday? Does he agree that had we failed to pass the prevention of terrorism Act and gone down the path of giving away Northern Ireland–the policy of the Opposition–the anti-terrorist branch and MI5 might as well have been told by us to pack up their things and go back to traffic duty?

    The Prime Minister : The police and the Security Service deserve our congratulations on their professionalism and vigilance. They have demonstrated that in fighting terrorism over many years. It is clear, and it has been endorsed repeatedly by the House, that we need the prevention of terrorism Act to defeat the terrorists. With the greatest goodwill in the world, I cannot understand why, year after year, Opposition Members have voted it down.

    Mr. Boyce : In view of the Prime Minister’s utterances in recent days about nuclear weapons being defensive measures, may I ask him to take this opportunity to assure the House, the country and the world that Britain will never use them first?

    The Prime Minister : The hon. Gentleman should know better than to ask such a daft question.

     

    Q5. Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

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

    Mr. Winterton : My right hon. Friend has announced this afternoon dramatic improvements in a number of economic indicators which are of immense interest to the House and the country. Will he continue to encourage manufacturing industry as a way of improving our economy, and will he ensure that in the Budget to be announced in December, the fragile recovery of our manufacturing base, which is vital to our future, will continue to be encouraged and that measures will be introduced to ensure that recovery and continued economic growth?

    The Prime Minister : The whole House knows and respects my hon. Friend’s advocacy of manufacturing, so he will be as pleased as I am about the growing success of British manufacturers. As he knows, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Thames (Mr. Lamont) introduced measures in the Budget and autumn statement to help manufacturing industry. I say also to my hon. Friend that the one thing that would do great damage to manufacturing industry would be the provisions of the social chapter.

    Mrs. Mahon : Does the Prime Minister realise that 500,000 of the present unemployed are aged between 18 and 24 and that, because of the cuts that he helped to introduce, they are having to manage on £4.97 a day? Does he think that that is enough to keep them in food and on which they can live? Will he take action now to end the discrimination against that age group, instead of making cheap political points at the expense of the unemployed?

    The Prime Minister : I do not think that the hon. Lady has grasped the training opportunities that exist for young people. I want youngsters to take up those training opportunities. That is what they are there for and it is in their interest to take them up.

     

    Q6. Mr. Amess : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

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

    Mr. Amess : Does my right hon. Friend agree that the Government’s trade union reforms have made a significant contribution to Britain’s increased industrial competitiveness over the past 10 years, while the trade unions have made a significant contribution to the Labour party’s electoral uncompetitiveness over the same period?

    The Prime Minister : I agree with my hon. Friend, and I came across an interesting quote last week from a delegate at a Transport and General Workers Union conference, who said :

    “We are not the tail wagging the dog. We are the dog.”

    That is the true relationship between Labour and the unions. The unions are the dog and Labour is the lamp post.

     

    Q7. Mr. Hain : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

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

    Mr. Hain : What is the Prime Minister going to do about corruption in his flagship council in Westminster? When will he stop crooks financing the Conservative party? Why did he allow 44 of his own Members to vote themselves tax privileges in the Lloyd’s amendments on Tuesday? Is that why he is the most unpopular Prime Minister on record?

    The Prime Minister : The best that can be said about that compendium question is that it is worthy of the hon. Gentleman.

    Mr. Fry : In welcoming the unemployment figure, will my right hon. Friend also take time to express vividly to all those in employment the cost of the social security budget, currently running at more than £60 a week for every worker? Does not that large sum justify the Government’s intention to re-examine that budget?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend is right about that for the reasons that I have set out on a number of occasions in recent weeks. That problem is faced not only in Britain, but right across the European Community, in Japan, the United States and other industrial countries.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 14 July 1993

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 14th July 1993.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Trade Facilitation Groups

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what trade facilitation groups have been set up in Peru, Colombia and Mexico in the wake of his visit ; and what advantages have accrued to Britain as a result of agreements and understandings arrived at during his visit.

    The Prime Minister : On my visit to Colombia last year I agreed with President Gaviria that we should establish a trade facilitation group and that the United Kingdom and Colombia should begin negotiations for an investment promotion and protection agreement and a double taxation agreement. The trade facilitation group has now reported back on obstacles to bilateral trade and how to overcome them and has identified many opportunities for British businesses. We hope to sign an IPPA and a DTA soon. I did not visit Peru or Mexico.

     

    Departmental Bills

    Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the steps taken by his Government to ensure that Government Departments pay outstanding bills within 30 days of their receipt ; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : “Government Accounting” requires all Departments to pay outstanding bills in accordance with the terms of the contract or generally understood terms of business, or within 30 days of the receipt of goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice or similar demand for payment, whichever is the later, if no terms are specified.

    Departments are responsible for monitoring their payment performance. The results for 1991-92 were published in written parliamentary answers on 13 July 1992. The results for 1992-93 will be published shortly and Departments will, in future, also be required to publish details of their payment performance in departmental reports.

     

    Child Migrant Scheme

    Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will place in the Library all Government records relating to the child migrant scheme;

    (2) what discussions he has had with representatives of the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Governments concerning the welfare of United Kingdom child migrants; what is the Government’s policy towards the compensation of those who have suffered as a result of this scheme; if he will take steps to increase Government grant assistance to the Child Migrant Trust; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : It would not be right to place personal record files in the Library. Other records are considered for deposit in the Public Record Office in the usual way.

    I have not raised the subject of child migrants with the Heads of Government in Australia, New Zealand or Canada, nor have they raised the subject with me. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health is contacting the Australian authorities.

    I know there have been allegations of physical and sexual abuse of a number of child migrants some years ago in Australia, but any such allegations will be a matter for the Australian authorities. I am not aware of any allegations involving the British authorities or claims against them for compensation.

    The Child Migrant Trust applied for Government funds and has received a section 64 grant of £25,000 from the Department of Health for the current year.

    Any future application will be considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

     

    No. 10 Downing Street

    Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell), of 5 July, Official Report, column 11, what charges are made to organisations or persons holding non-official events at 10 Downing Street in respect of overheads or indirect costs associated with such functions.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 9 July 1993] : The practice under this and previous Administrations is that the organisers are responsible for all catering and staff costs, as well as other miscellaneous direct costs. No charges are levied for overheads or indirect costs.

    Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newham North-West (Mr. Banks) on 5 July, Official Report, column 11, whether all political parties represented in the House can apply to use 10 Downing Street for fund raising and other social purposes.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 9 July 1993] : As under previous Administrations, the use of 10 Downing Street for non-official or party functions is a matter for the Prime Minister.

    Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 5 July, Official Report, column 11, which Ministers have hosted non- official or party receptions or functions in 10 Downing Street since 1979.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 13 July 1993] : I have hosted all such events since November 1990.

    Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 5 July, Official Report, columns 11-12, if he will give details of the occasions upon which No. 10 Downing street was used for functions for which tickets were sold for the benefit of political parties since 1979.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 13 July 1993] : As I said in the reply to which the hon. Member refers, that is not a matter for the Government.

    Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 5 July, Official Report, column 12, on attendance by Mr. Asil Nadir at functions at No. 10 Downing Street, which of the functions attended were Government functions; and who issued the invitation in each such case.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 13 July 1993] : The only Government function was the dinner for the President of Turkey. For all the functions, invitations would have been issued in the name of the Prime Minister.

     

    Foreign Heads of State (Visits)

    Mr. William Ross : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the official visits made by heads of foreign states to Northern Ireland in each of the last three years, the engagements carried out by them during each such visit, and indicating which engagements were private, public and official.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 13 July 1993] : There have been no official visits made to Northern Ireland by heads of foreign states in the last three years.

  • Mr Major’s Speech to the British Hospitality Industry – 14 July 1993

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s speech to the British Hospitality Industry, given at the Hyatt Carlton Tower Hotel in London on Wednesday 14th July 1993.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Since I became Prime Minister I’ve visited 33 different countries. I have become an expert – on airports, hotels, convention centres…. Occasionally, I’ve been let out to see some of the wonders of other countries.

    Millions of people from those other countries do rather better – when they make the reverse trip. They come here year after year – and stay at our hotels. Last year a record 18 million of them visited – and this year the figure will be higher.

    Why do they do so?

    We in this country often undersell ourselves. But in what we have to offer our visitors, few countries can compare. Typically we are often our worst enemy. Self-deprecating jokes about our climate and the services we offer may have a becoming ring of modesty, but it does nothing for British industry. Frankly it’s time we started talking ourselves up, not talking ourselves down. Throughout the UK, we have an immense range of attractions to offer – our national museums and galleries; live theatres with reputations unrivalled worldwide; a substantial history and heritage running through our buildings and monuments; a huge range of sport to watch and to play; and a vast range of breathtakingly beautiful scenery – our lakes, our mountains, our waterways – inland and coastal holiday resorts. All these attract visitors to the UK. In particular I was struck by recent opinion poll evidence which suggests that our heritage – in its broadest sense – is the main attraction bringing tourists here. Your association ensures that visitors can expect a welcome second to none.

    Indeed, in a sense your industry is part of our heritage. Our historic inns and hotels are a living illustration of Britain past and present. From timbered coaching inns to grand country mansions, many are themselves tourist attractions. Many retain their ancient charms – though the best have wisely added the advantage of modern plumbing, good food and – although I am myself not so sure this is an advantage – early morning newspapers.

    I am very conscious that tourism – of which the hospitality industry is a vital part – is one of our most significant and successful industries. Experts might differ on what is included in the tourism sector and what is not, but estimates suggest that 1 1/2 million people are employed in the industry and 25 billion pounds are earned by it. Those are substantial and very striking figures. No Government could ignore an industry of such significance – and we certainly don’t wish to.

    That was one of the reasons behind the creation of the Department of National Heritage – the first new Whitehall Department for 29 years. I was determined to see the Department set up to bring together a range of interests given only subsidiary attention in other Departments. Now those interests have a strong voice around the Cabinet table, a voice that promotes tourism, heritage, sports, the arts, our Royal Palaces and Parks – all things that attract visitors to this country. Almost all the Department’s 1 billion pounds annual expenditure is helping directly or indirectly to promote your industry – a substantial sum. Government support for tourism extends far beyond the work of the Tourist Board – excellent and important though that work is.

    The impact of the new Department is already being felt in Parliament. Only last week we had the fourth debate on tourism in the last six months. Two in the House of Commons and two in the House of Lords. I wonder when that last happened. I believe this demonstrates that we are putting tourism higher up the political agenda – because of the increasing importance of the industry and I can promise you it’s going to stay high up on the agenda.

    Having said that I am conscious that expenditure on heritage and related matters has often had an uphill battle against the demands of health, education and defence. One of the reasons I was so keen to establish the National Lottery was to generate additional resources for these areas. At least four out of the five areas the Lottery will support – the arts, sport, the heritage and the Millennium Fund – will be in areas of our national life which will encourage tourism. Even very conservative estimates of the resources likely to be raised by the lottery suggest that each of these areas could benefit from up to 75 million pounds a year – I suspect in reality the figures will be far, far higher.

    The obligation on the Government to support the tourist industry does not stop at the Department of National Heritage. Across many Government Departments there is a responsibility to ensure that the framework is right to allow the industry to thrive.

    Over the last year or so the economic climate has been difficult – here, as elsewhere. Much of your industry has faced extremely tough times. The recession abroad, coupled with the fall off in international travel following the Gulf War, reduced the number of visitors from overseas. I have never understood why trouble in Baghdad means fewer visitors to London, but apparently it does. Perhaps we should sponsor international geography lessons.

    The effects of the recession on our economy, cut into the domestic market. People spent less on tourist-related activities.

    But today all the indications are that we are witnessing a recovery. The exchange rate is encouraging overseas visitors to return. Falling interest rates and falling unemployment mean more money once more in the pockets of British people to pass through the tills of your industry.

    The recovery is in its infancy, but it is growing daily. Yesterday we announced the largest increase in manufacturing output for over four years. Today we have learned that headline inflation fell to 1.2%, the lowest level for thirty years. The figures taken together show that we are in sight of our long term goal: growth without inflation. Evidence in your own industry is building up – visits from overseas in the first four months of this year up 6% on last; expenditure up 13%. As the economic climate comes good, it will be even more important to get the business climate right. If not, those with money to spend will take it elsewhere.

    There is probably no area where the Government has more ability to damage the business climate than in the field of regulation. I don’t suggest that all regulation is bad – nor would you. But reality suggests that Governments find making new regulations far easier than cutting out old, bad and defunct ones. It is easy to see why that is – and it is equally easy to see the damage it causes. I believe we must look again at the level of regulation in your industry and in other industries. Some perhaps will always be necessary, but wherever possible we must remove unnecessary red tape from industry and commerce. This will not be an easy task – it will take time. Removing regulation from Whitehall is like wrestling with a greasy pig. But I intend progress to be made and I expect a large deregulation Bill to form part of the next Parliamentary session.

    Many of you will be aware of the Task Forces set up by the Department of Trade and Industry to identify the necessary deregulation. Each Department has a Minister charged with the task of ensuring we succeed – in the Department of National Heritage it is lain Sproat. This is particularly appropriate as, before he became the Minister, he was Chairman of the Backbench Committee on Deregulation – so he is certainly approaching this area of his responsibilities with enthusiasm. I know the Association has been working hard to convey the views or the industry. I am very grateful for that – we want to hear your views on what needs to be done. Then we will strive to do it.

    The deregulation initiative is part of our strategy to improve the efficiency of industry. In the public sector, a key part in our strategy for improved efficiency is the principle of market testing and contacting out. Here, too, your industry has a key role to play. In vast areas of the public sector catering-related services are now provided more efficiently than ever as a result of your members’ efforts. This is obviously good news for your industry – but it is also good news for the consumers of these services, and for the taxpayer at large.

    I believe that we are fortunate in having one of the most successful hospitality industries in the world. Excellence must continue to be our watchword. The natural attractions of the UK will continue to bring people here in their millions. It is the warmth of the welcome from your members which will keep them here longer and encourage them to return – again and again. That must be in all our interests.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 13 July 1993

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 13th July 1993.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Serbia

    Mr. Wareing : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackpool, North (Mr. Elletson) of 5 July, Official Report, column 15, on actions by the Serbian Government, if he will list (a) the actions taken by that Government which Her Majesty’s Government considers to have fulfilled the requirements of the London conference and (b) the ways in which they have failed to co-operate satisfactorily with the international community’s peace efforts.

    The Prime Minister : The Serbian leadership bears a heavy burden of responsibility for the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, and has not met the fundamental requirements contained in the statement of principles of the London conference to end hostilities and the acquisition of territory by force, to engage in serious negotiation with the other parties, to respect the rights and basic needs of civilians, and to meet the obligations of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

     

    Engagements

    Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 13 July.

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

     

    World Summit for Children

    Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the steps taken by his Government to achieve the targets established at the world summit for children.

    The Prime Minister : The United Kingdom response to the declaration and plan of action agreed at the world summit for children is published as Cm. 1984, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

     

    Child Migrants Scheme

    Mr. Mike O’Brien : To ask the Prime Minister if he will set up an inquiry into the child migrants scheme.

    The Prime Minister : I have no plans to do so. Such schemes date back to the second half of the 19th century and were conducted under duly enacted legislation. They were ended in 1967.

  • PMQT – 13 July 1993

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 13th July 1993.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. David Evans : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 13 July.

    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. Evans : Is my right hon. Friend aware that Conservative Members are delighted to welcome him back from Tokyo and congratulate him on his success? Is not that in stark contrast to the lot opposite, who are horrified that their leader has just come back from Bournemouth? Did my right hon. Friend’s father, at the height of his career as a trapeze artist, do as many somersaults as the Leader of the Opposition, the wriggler from Monklands, East?

    The Prime Minister : I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his welcome home. We did have a successful meeting in Tokyo and, from what I hear, the right hon. and learned Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith) had a rather less successful meeting in Bournemouth.

    Mr. John Smith : Following the vote in the House last night in which the Prime Minister and his colleagues voted to impose value added tax on the heating bills of millions of pensioners and families, does not he think that he should now apologise to the British people for betraying the election pledges that he made during the last election?

    The Prime Minister : I am surprised that the right hon. and learned Gentleman should raise that matter today. This week’s edition of “Labour Party News” contains an article with the heading

    “Sending your comments to Chris Smith MP”.

    It asks :

    “In what ways can economic policy be developed to encourage environmental protection? You might consider : Taxation Policy (eg energy tax )”.

    Mr. Smith : The Prime Minister clearly does not want to hear a reference to his VAT commitment. Let me remind him what he said in the “Conservative Campaign Guide”– [Interruption.] I know that Conservative Members do not want to hear it. The last thing that they want to hear about is the “Conservative Campaign Guide”. It attacked the Labour party for what it called irresponsible scares about VAT and said :

    “The Prime Minister has confirmed that the Government has no intention of raising VAT.”

    Why was that said in the election?

    The Prime Minister : The right hon. and learned Gentleman clearly does not know his own policy and I offer him my copy of “Labour Party News”. My comment was in response to Labour’s charges that we intended to raise the standard rate to 22 per cent., which we were not intending.

    Mr. Battle : You lied to them.

    Madam Speaker : Order. I clearly heard the hon. Gentleman’s unparliamentary language. Will he now withdraw it?

    Mr. Battle : I understand that the expression is “economical with the truth”, Madam Speaker.

    The Prime Minister : That was a typically cheap withdrawal. Frankly, the Leader of the Opposition is not being remotely open about his position. Quite apart from this week’s admission that the Labour party was considering VAT on fuel–and still is–in its policy review document, “Looking to the Future”, the Labour party stated : “Zero-rating should remain on fares, books, food and children’s clothing.”

    It specifically excluded fuel. That fact, allied to the document from which I quoted earlier, constitutes the clearest illustration that that is Labour party policy.

    Before the Liberal leader looks too smug, may I say that in his document “Costing the Earth” the Liberal Democrats advocated a tax on energy and, failing that, said :

    “We would press forward by ending the anomalous zero rate of VAT on fuel.”

    Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will go back to Christchurch and tell them that.

    Mr. John Smith : If the Prime Minister wants to wriggle out of the “Conservative Campaign Guide” commitment, let me remind him of what he said to the House on 28 January 1992. He said :

    “There will be no VAT increase.”–[ Official Report, 28 January 1992 ; Vol. 202, c. 808]

    Did the Prime Minister say that? Does he deny that he said it? Does he also deny that he has cynically betrayed an election pledge?

    The Prime Minister : The right hon. and learned Gentleman is embarrassed because he walked into an open hole. That quote of mine is clearly related to the 17 per cent. rate of VAT, which we have not changed. The right hon. and learned Gentleman is well aware of that. He may wriggle and wriggle, but this week’s edition of “Labour Party News’ shows clearly what the Labour party policy was and is.

     

    Q2. Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 13 July.

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

    Mr. Greenway : Does my right hon. Friend agree that racial tolerance and compassion underlie the British character and that that is reflected in the natural desire of many childless couples to want to offer a good and loving home to children, regardless of race, colour or creed? Is not it time to end the shameful political correctness of some officials who seek to discourage that?

    The Prime Minister : The Government’s adoption policy will be guided by common sense and the interests of the child. There will be no house room for political correctness.

    Mr. Wigley : Is the Prime Minister aware of the strong feeling in Wales about the need to give the Welsh language official status alongside the English language in Wales–a policy which is supported across party political boundaries? Is he aware that a monolingual French label on a wine bottle or similar product in Wales is official in Wales? A label in Greek only is valid in Wales, but a label in the Welsh language is not valid because the British Government do not recognise the Welsh language as an official language. Will the right hon. Gentleman try to change that policy at the Report stage of the Welsh Language Bill this week?

    The Prime Minister : The Government’s Welsh Language Bill represents an important addition to support and encouragement for the Welsh language in Wales. I know that the hon. Gentleman has canvassed and fought hard for the Bill and I know that he appreciated the fact that it was produced. We believe that Welsh already enjoys official status in Wales. A general declaration in the Bill would have no practical effect and would probably only increase legal uncertainty.

    Mr. Milligan : Does my right hon. Friend agree that the reason that there is one member, one vote in the trade union movement was that the Government gave financial encouragement for postal ballots and actively helped democracy in the trade unions? Given that the campaign of the Leader of the Opposition to introduce one member, one vote in the Labour party will clearly either be fudged or abandoned, what measures will the Government– [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. The hon. Gentleman must resume his seat for a moment. The Prime Minister is not responsible for Opposition policies. The hon. Gentleman must rephrase his question.

    Mr. Milligan : I am grateful for your correction. I am asking what action the Government will take, similar to that taken to encourage democracy in the trade unions, to encourage democracy in the Labour party.

    The Prime Minister : Democracy in the Labour party would be a welcome addition to our public life. The right hon. and learned Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith) appears to be prepared to fight the battle for one man, one vote. He also appears to be retreating from it.

     

    Q3. Mrs. Roche : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 13 July.

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

    Mrs. Roche : Will the Prime Minister break his reputation for stubbornness and listen to the Social Security Advisory Committee when it says that the imposition of VAT on domestic fuel will have a disproportionate effect on the incomes of the poor?

    The Prime Minister : As the hon. Lady will know–we have stated it often enough in the House–we have made it clear that extra help will be provided in advance for people who are vulnerable, to meet the costs of VAT on fuel. That help will be in addition to the automatic increase in pensions and other benefits to reflect the impact of any increase in the retail prices index. I have made that clear repeatedly and so has my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security. Perhaps the hon. Lady would either care to listen to that statement now or read the innumerable occasions on which it has been made clear.

    Mr. Day : Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating British manufacturing industry on the figures published today on manufacturing output? Does he agree that that is a sign that Britain is moving into recovery and that, under his strong leadership, not only will Britain’s economy improve but our party will emerge victorious at the end of this Parliament?

    The Prime Minister : They were extremely good figures this morning. The increase in manufacturing output reported this morning is the largest monthly increase for four years. Clearly, that is good news and it bodes well for British manufacturing. But it is only one of a large number of signs that the economy is recovering–retail sales are up, car registrations are up, confidence is up and unemployment is down.

     

    Q4. Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 13 July.

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

    Rev. Martin Smyth : Has the Prime Minister seen today’s leader article in The Times which refers to the instability in Northern Ireland since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement and the unease among Unionists? Does he accept that that instability has been increased by the Labour party’s so-called discussion document, Dick Spring’s revelations and the talks between emissaries of the British Government and the Provisional IRA? Will we now move from parrot calls for round table talks to restoring accountable democracy in Northern Ireland at all levels by direct action, rather than diplomatic dithering?

    The Prime Minister : On the first part of the hon. Gentleman’s question, I share the views that he expressed about the Labour party’s proposals for Northern Ireland. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland wrote to the Leader of the Opposition about this matter some time ago, but, so far as I am aware, he has not yet received a reply.

    As for talks in the future, I hope that we shall be able to reach the outcome that the hon. Gentleman has in mind as a result of the resumption of talks. We hope that they will be able to resume speedily and, once they resume, we hope that they will be successful.

     

    Bromsgrove

    Q5. Mr. Thomason : To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit Bromsgrove.

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

    Mr. Thomason : Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating Rover cars, parts of which are made in the Bromsgrove constituency, which announced yesterday that it had increased sales world wide? Does he agree that its achievement bodes well and is a good advertisement for British quality, British workers and an expanding British economy?

    The Prime Minister : I am happy to join my hon. Friend in congratulating Rover, which has increased its sales in Europe significantly. To have done that in the difficult trading conditions of Europe speaks volumes for its pricing and the quality of its products. Total car production has risen by about 11 per cent. and production of computers and related equipment is up by 8 per cent. There is no doubt that British industry is becoming more competitive and that British manufacturing industry in particular is beginning to penetrate new markets in quite a substantial way.

    Dr. Lynne Jones : What would the Prime Minister say to the residents of Bromsgrove and nearby Birmingham who are sceptical about his claim that the imposition of VAT on fuel is an energy tax when that tax is also to be imposed on standing charges and there is no proposal to reinvest the revenue gained in energy conservation measures?

    The Prime Minister : I would say what I said moments ago to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) about the reimbursement that would be available.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 12th July 1993

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 12th July 1993.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    UK-Japan Nuclear Trade

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister whether he discussed the matter of United Kingdom-Japan nuclear trade during his visit to the G7 summit in Tokyo.

    The Prime Minister : At our meeting, the Prime Minister of Japan and I discussed a wide range of bilateral and international issues.

     

    Serbia

    Mr. Wareing : To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had during the past two weeks with Lord Owen on the issue of the selective lifting of sanctions against Serbia; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : I have had no such discussions with Lord Owen during the past two weeks. At the Group of Seven economic summit in Tokyo on 7-9 July, I and other Heads of Government reaffirmed that sanctions will be upheld against Serbia and Montenegro until the conditions in the relevant Security Council resolutions on the former Yugoslavia are met.

     

    Public Bodies

    Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister what is the Government’s policy towards the appointment of known members of the Labour party to non-ministerial public bodies, including health authorities and hospital trust boards.

    The Prime Minister : The Government seek to make all appointments, including those to health authorities and NHS trusts, on merit. Individuals are carefully appraised against the key criteria set for each appointment which cover the qualities, skills and experience required. Details of political affiliation are not specified, and are not required on nomination forms. The successful candidate is the one who meets the criteria, and has the ability and aptitude to meet the demands of the appointment, and to contribute to the effective working of the body concerned.

     

    Overseas Visits

    Mr. Meacher : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the destination, dates and purpose of each official overseas visit he has undertaken since November 1991.

    The Prime Minister : The information requested is as follows :

    Destination |Purpose of visit |Dates

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

    Italy |NATO Summit Meeting |6-8 November 1991

    Germany |Bilateral |10 November 1991

    Italy |Bilateral |27 November 1991

    Germany |Bilateral |27 November 1991

    Netherlands |Bilateral |1 December 1991

    Republic of Ireland |Bilateral |4 December 1991

    Netherlands |European Council |8-10 December 1991

    USA |United Nations Security Council Meeting |30-31 January 1992

    Poland |Bilateral |25-26 May 1992

    Czechoslovakia |Bilateral |26-28 May 1992

    Hungary |Bilateral |28-29 May 1992

    Germany |Bilateral |5 June 1992

    USA |Bilateral |6-9 June 1992

    Colombia |Bilateral |9-10 June 1992

    Brazil |United Nations Conference on Environment and Development | 10-12 June 1992

    Portugal |European Council |25-27 June 1992

    Germany |G7 Economic Summit |6-8 July 1992

    Finland |CSCE Summit |9-10 July 1992

    Spain |Olympic Games |7-9 August 1992

    Spain |Bilateral |16-17 September 1992

    France |Bilateral |30 September 1992

    Egypt |50th Anniversary Commemorations at El Alamein |23-25 October 1992

    Belgium |Bilateral |23 November 1992

    Italy |Bilateral |27 November 1992

    Luxembourg |Bilateral |30 November 1992

    Greece |Bilateral |27-28 November 1992

    Spain |Bilateral |30 November to 1 December 1992

    Portugal |Bilateral |1 December 1992

    Denmark |Bilateral |2 December 1992

    Netherlands |Bilateral |6-7 December 1992

    Republic of Ireland |Bilateral |7 December 1992

    France |European Parliament Plenary |15-16 December 1992

    Canada |EC/Canada Talks |17-18 December 1992

    USA |EC/United States Talks |18-20 December 1992

    Bosnia |Visit British Forces |22 December 1992

    India |Republic Day Celebrations |23-28 January 1993

    Oman |Bilateral |28 January 1993

    Saudi Arabia |Bilateral |28 January 1993

    USA |Bilateral |23-25 February 1993

    Switzerland |Bilateral |5-6 April 1993

    Austria |Bilateral |6 April 1993

    France |Bilateral |27-28 May 1993

    Denmark |European Council |20-22 June 1993

    Japan |G7 Economic Summit |5-9 July 1993