The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

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  • PMQT Written Answers – 19 May 1992

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 19th May 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Plutonium Production Statistics

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister which Department of Her Majesty’s Government will be responsible for the collection and annual publication of plutonium production figures from civil nuclear power stations following the abolition of the Department of Energy.

    The Prime Minister : This information will now be provided by the Department of Trade and Industry.

     

    Department of Energy

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the reallocation of resources committed to support programmes planned by the Department of Energy before it was abolished.

    The Prime Minister : With the exception of work on energy efficiency, responsibility for the programmes of the former Department of Energy has been transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry. The provision for those programmes, as set out in the supply estimates for 1992-93 and approved in the Appropriation Act 1992, remains unchanged. Responsibility for energy efficiency has been transferred to the Department of the Environment.

     

    Engagements

    Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 May.

    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.

     

    Listed Buildings

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the relative responsibilities of the Department of the Environment and Department of National Heritage with respect to listed buildings.

    The Prime Minister : Details were set out in news releases, issued by both Departments on 1 May, available in the Library of the House. Responsibility for the listing of historic buildings now rests with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage. Because of their close connection with planning controls, consents for works to listed buildings remain the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. There will be close consultation between the two departments, both on general policy and on particular issues. English Heritage will act as adviser to both Departments.

     

    Learning Difficulties

    Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to required the Secretaries of State for Employment and for Health to issue a joint circular to training and enterprise councils and joint care planning committees on ways to enhance the prospects of training for people with learning difficulties.

    The Prime Minister : The Department of Health will shortly be issuing guidance to local authorities on all services for adults with learning disabilities. This guidance will cover references to the need to plan day services in close co-operation with employment services and training and enterprise councils. The guidance is being prepared in collaboration with the Department of Employment and will be copied to TECs.

     

    Security Commissioner (Report)

    Mr. Hague : To ask the Prime Minister when the commissioner appointed under the Security Service Act 1989 will present his annual report for 1991; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : A copy of Lord Justice Stuart-Smith’s annual report for 1991 has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 4(6) of the Security Service Act 1989. The confidential appendix to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 4(7) of the 1989 Act. I am grateful to the commissioner for his work in reviewing the issue of warrants and in providing assistance to the tribunal as provided in the Act. I note that he is satisfied that the Secretaries of State have properly exercised their powers under the Act and that the arrangements in force for ensuring that the service discloses information only in accordance with the provisions of the 1989 Act are working satisfactorily.

  • PMQT – 19 May 1992

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 19th May 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 May.

    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. Davies : The Prime Minister will recall the support given by all sides of the House and by the public at large to the British armed forces during the Gulf war. In recognition of that and following the verdict of a jury yesterday that nine of our soldiers were unlawfully killed, will the Government take all necessary steps to ensure that criminal proceedings are brought against those responsible? If his commitment to open government is serious, will he ensure that the full details of this incident are made available to the public, because this is not an occasion when there should be a cover up either by the American or the British authorities?

    The Prime Minister : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence will answer a private notice question about this matter in a few moments. I sympathise with the anguish of the families and with their wish to find out exactly what went wrong. That has been our aim as well.

    The sad fact is that in war terrible accidents of this sort do sometimes occur. Clearly we must learn the lessons of this for the future ; but I hope that we will not lose sight of the fact that these were American pilots risking their lives alongside our troops in the battle against a common enemy and to liberate Kuwait. I hope that that thought is not lost sight of : without American resolve and support the liberation of Kuwait would not have been possible.

    Mr. Robert B. Jones : Can my right hon. Friend confirm that any minimum and legally binding rate of VAT imposed by the European Commission will be unacceptable to him as well as to the people of this country?

    The Prime Minister : As my hon. Friend knows, we are not in favour of minimum rates of VAT, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has made that clear in his discussions with our European partners.

    Mr. Kinnock : Following the Prime Minister’s response just now, may I put it to him that the House is united in its admiration of the risks taken by United States and other service men in the course of the Gulf war ; and that the families whose sons are judged to have been unlawfully killed by allied fire are not seeking the identity of any United States personnel? They are seeking the truth about what happened to cause the death of their sons. In common with many others, I believe that they have the right to gain that truth. In addition to what he has already done, will the Prime Minister therefore use all the authority that he has to ensure that every available procedure is employed to see that the full truth is obtained?

    The Prime Minister : I entirely understand the right hon. Gentleman’s point. In many ways he expresses a view widely held across this country and elsewhere. The United States Government have acted in this case in the same way as they have acted in the case of friendly fire involving their own forces and their own citizens. A great deal of information has been provided, including by the pilots themselves. They were assured by their authorities that their anonymity would be safeguarded, and they provided information to the inquest on that basis.

    This was a tragic accident and the whole House sympathises with the anguish and frustration of the families. The United States Government have shown their sympathy for the bereaved at the highest level. President Bush saw the families ; he has responded to their requests to him for more information. But the United States Government also have to weigh up the anguish of the families of their pilots and their obligations to their own citizens. All the relevant considerations have been drawn to their attention, but the decision whether to send pilots to the inquest must be for the United States authorities to make.

    Mr. Kinnock : I am sorry to press the Prime Minister, but I must do so. The anguish of which he speaks–the anguish being experienced by the pilots and their families–is obvious ; but that anguish will not be increased or diminished if the British families are told the exact truth of the circumstances in which their boys were killed. Will the Prime Minister concentrate on that aspect of the matter, and set any possible legal proceedings aside for the concern of the appropriate authorities, while using his authority to gain the truth? That will not add to or–tragically- -diminish the great sadness that we know must be felt by any service men who have been involved in any way in this horrific incident.

    The Prime Minister : As I told the right hon. Gentleman a moment ago, the inquest was provided with a great deal of information, including that provided by the pilots themselves. That information has been sought, and it has been provided. I am not in a position to provide any more information : that which is available has been provided.

     

    Q2. Sir George Gardiner : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 May.

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

    Sir George Gardiner : I congratulate my right hon. Friend on his publication today of the structure and membership of Cabinet committees. Does he intend to continue to blow the cobwebs of secrecy from Whitehall, and can he apply the same zeal to the antiquated procedures of the House by enabling hon. Members to reach decisions on the Select Committee on Sittings of the House before the summer recess, so that more sensible working hours can be adopted when we return in the autumn?

    The Prime Minister : I am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing my attention to both those points.

    As my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House told the House last Wednesday, we plan to provide an early opportunity for the House to debate the Select Committee’s report on the reform of our procedures. Obviously, hon. Members will want to have their own say on the far-reaching changes that are proposed ; I am sure, however, that my right hon. Friend knows my personal belief that the House needs to reform its procedures, and I hope that we shall be able to proceed to such reform as speedily as possible.

    As for my hon. Friend’s first point, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is looking across Whitehall and beyond, with the aim of incrementally removing unnecessary secrecy. I think that this is a way in which the Government can make their own information more accessible and more responsive to the citizens whom they serve.

    Mr. Ashdown : May we leave aside for the moment the clear mishandling of the Oxford friendly-fire inquest by both the United States authorities and the Ministry of Defence, and the clear duty that now lies with the Government–which I hope that the Prime Minister accepts–to pursue those unanswered questions directly with the United States authorities? Will the Prime Minister confirm that he would not permit British soldiers who had committed tragic but human errors in conditions of war to be required to face either inquest or trial on the basis that such mistakes would be made in time of peace? Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that we should not require of the United States Government something that we would not permit ourselves?

    The Prime Minister : I understand the underlying point that the hon. Gentleman is making, but so much depends on the individual circumstances of the case. I think that the whole House will understand precisely why that must be so. Certainly, there might be circumstances in which the right hon. Gentleman’s conclusion would be absolutely right.

     

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

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

    Mr. Gill : Given that the Prime Minister will seldom find himself in a better bargaining position in this regard, what assurance can he give the House that issues such as immigration, border controls, Britain’s contribution to the European Community budget and its rebate and–this should not be forgotten–the European working time directive will be settled before he ratifies the Maastricht agreement?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend raises a number of extremely important and, in many ways, tendentious issues. They are matters that relate to existing provisions of the treaty of Rome and they are not directly related to the Maastricht treaty. All the matters to which my hon. Friend has referred are extremely important and I give him the assurance that we shall fight to preserve British interests up to, during and after the ratification of the Maastricht treaty.

     

    Q4. Mr. Pendry : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 May.

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

    Mr. Pendry : In this season of maiden speeches does the Prime Minister recall his own in June 1979 in the Budget debate, when he expressed grave concern about the level of unemployment in his constituency? Since that time he has held high office–Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer and now, of course, Prime Minister. The level of unemployment in Huntingdon by the same count today is 5,483, a staggering increase of 393 per cent. What went wrong exactly?

    The Prime Minister : The strict answer to the hon. Gentleman is that I recall clearly my maiden speech, and I doubt whether any hon. Member is ever likely to forget it. It is often an extremely difficult occasion. As for employment prospects, the hon. Gentleman might care to consider how many of my constituents were in work. In my constituency and throughout the whole of the country we have a higher percentage of our population in secure jobs than in any other part of the European Community, with the exception of Denmark.

     

    Q5. Mr. Bowis : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 May.

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

    Mr. Bowis : Now that my right hon. Friend has persuaded trade union leaders to accept democracy in the workplace, will he see what he can do about their attitude to democracy in this place? Perhaps they could start by abandoning their current practice of appointing the Leader of the Opposition.

    Madam Speaker : Order. That is not a question for the Prime Minister to answer.

     

    Q6. Ms. Quin : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 May.

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

    Ms. Quin : Is the Prime Minister aware that despite the welcome increase in dental treatment last year, Government policies are threatening the future of dentistry within the national health service? What action will the right hon. Gentleman take to resolve the dispute with the dentists, to reverse the ever-increasing cost of dental treatment and to ensure that dentistry will be available to the entire population within the NHS for the long-term future?

    The Prime Minister : As the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry) referred a moment ago to the position over the whole period that the Conservative Government have been in power, perhaps I also could do so. There are now 27 per cent. more dentists in the general dental service than there were in 1979. Expenditure on the dental service in England alone exceeded £1 billion last year, an increase of 43 per cent. since 1979. On the vexed question of dental fees, which might have underlain the hon. Lady’s supplementary question, a joint inquiry has now concluded its meetings and will report to the dental rates study group. It would not be right for me to comment until conclusions have been produced.

    Mr. Rathbone : Might I, like my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Sir G. Gardiner), welcome my right hon. Friend’s publishing of the Cabinet committees and sub-committees? I ask my right hon. Friend to confirm that the translation of the inter-ministerial group on drug misuse into a Cabinet sub-committee is additional Government accent for this important area of activity?

    The Prime Minister : Yes, I can give my hon. Friend that assurance.

     

    Q7. Mr. Trimble : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 May.

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

    Mr. Trimble : May I refer the Prime Minister to the speech that he made on the Loyal Address, in the course of which he committed himself to strengthening the union between Scotland and England throughout this Parliament? In this Parliament will he show an equal concern about strengthening the union with Northern Ireland?

    The Prime Minister : I am happy to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to respect the democratically expressed wishes of the people of Northern Ireland. That has been our position for a long time and there is no change in that. At the same time, the people of Northern Ireland and I believe that the whole of the United Kingdom wants the present political talks to succeed. I understand the difficulties of the talks, but I hope that all Northern Ireland political leaders will bear in mind their responsibility to help to make the talks successful in the interests of all the people who live in Northern Ireland. It is those political leaders and those talks that offer the best prospect of a secure and prosperous future for Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom for all the people of Northern Ireland.

    Mrs. Angela Knight : Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is fundamental that the basics of English are taught to children in schools? Is not that a vital part of the education policy of our right hon. Friend the Secretary of State? Does my right hon. Friend further agree that teaching the dialogue of soap operas will not raise the standards of education?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend speaks for many hon. Members and for many millions of people outside the House. The basics of education are clearly of fundamental importance. I suspect that the teaching of the classics is rather more valuable to children than the teaching of soap operas.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 18 May 1992

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 18th May 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Roman Catholic Church

    Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Prime Minister if he will now make it the policy of Her Majesty’s Government to accord the same degree of official recognition to the territorial sees and titles of the Roman Catholic Church in England and in Wales as is accorded to the unestablished Anglican churches outside England; and if he will make a statement on the situation in Northern Ireland.

    The Prime Minister : Official recognition for Roman Catholic territorial titles was precluded under Acts of 1829 and 1851, the penal provisions of which were repealed in 1871 and 1978. Since it was raised with me by Sir Hugh Rossi in the last Parliament I have been looking sympathetically at the matter and my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary will now be consulting the relevant Church authorities about the practices to be adopted in future.

     

    Lockerbie Bombing

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of initiatives taken by the Security Council of the United Nations in relation to Lockerbie and Libya.

    The Prime Minister : The United Nations Secretary-General has tried to persuade Libya to comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions 731 and 748, including sending emissaries several times to Libya. Libya has rebutted these efforts and has not complied with the resolutions.

     

    Maastricht Treaty

    Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister why the new article 123 inserted by the Maastricht treaty which provides for the salaries of the President and members of the EC Commission to be determined by majority vote, was inserted under title IV, which relates to amendments to the treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Authority ; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : Article I(7) of the treaty on European union reproduces the provisions of article 6 of the treaty establishing a single Council and single Commission of the European Commission of the European Communities–the “merger treaty”–signed on 8 April 1965–see schedule 1.I(5) to the European Communities Act 1972–and incorporates them into the text of the European Atomic Energy Committee treaty. Identical provisions are to be found in articles G(47), amending the European Coal and Steel Community treaty. This is a matter of textual consolidation only; the legal position will remain as it has been since the entry into force of the merger treaty.

     

    Subsidiarity

    Mr. Wigley : To ask the Prime Minister whether he regards the principle of subsidiarity as applicable in any way to the relationship between London and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : The Government are fully committed to the Union between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, while recognising the need for arrangements which reflect the distinctive interests of its component parts.

     

    UNCED

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he intends to be present at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development for its final two days in June.

    The Prime Minister : I propose to attend the latter part of the Rio conference. I am currently finalising the details of my programme which will be announced shortly.

     

    G7 Summit

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what proposals on environment protection Her Majesty’s Government plan to put forward at the G7 summit of leading industrialised nations in Munich in July.

    The Prime Minister : We will propose that the G7 should take effective follow-up action to the Earth summit, including in the area of environmental protection.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 14 May 1992

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 14th May 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Whaling Ban

    Mr. Dafis : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to support a ban on whaling for commercial purposes on a permanent basis at the forthcoming Earth summit.

    The Prime Minister : The Earth summit has a full agenda on a range of environmental issues; it will not be the place for detailed consideration of whaling. The United Kingdom has taken a lead in protecting whales and strongly supports the moratorium on commercial whaling, agreed by the International Whaling Commission, which has operated since 1985. The IWC is the proper place to consider the future of the moratorium; it will be discussing the matter at its next meeting in June.

     

    Environmental Impact Assessments

    Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those Ministers in each Department responsible for considering the environmental implications of his or her Department’s policies and spending programmes; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : An updated list is currently being prepared and will be published as soon as possible.

     

    Iraq

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what correspondence he has received from Mr. Frank Machon regarding the alleged breach of export control restrictions over the sale of military sensitive materials to Iraq by British companies; and what response he has made.

    The Prime Minister : As far as I am aware, the last correspondence from Mr. Machon was received on 21 February 1991 and a reply was made on 26 February.

     

    Cabinet Committees

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will now give the names and composition of all Cabinet committees and sub-committees.

    The Prime Minister : A full list of ministerial Cabinet committees, with their terms of reference and membership, will be published shortly.

     

    Interception of Communications Act 1985

    Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Prime Minister when the annual report of the commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 will be laid before the House ; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : A copy of Lord Justice Lloyd’s sixth and final report, covering 1991, has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 8(7) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985. The confidential appendix to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 8(8) of the 1985 Act. I am grateful to the commissioner for his work since 1986 in reviewing the issue of warrants. I note in particular his observations that the Secretaries of State take great care to satisfy themselves that the warrants are necessary for the purposes stated in the Act, and that the system for the issue of warrants is working as intended by Parliament.

    Careful consideration is being given to both parts of the commissioner’s report.

     

    Engagements

    Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 May.

    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.

  • PMQT – 14 May 1992

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 14th May 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. French : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 May.

    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. French : Does my right hon. Friend agree that although it is desirable to have an easy flow of goods and people between countries, it is essential to maintain effective national border controls, not only as part of our fight against international crime and drug trafficking, but to preserve that extra security which we as an island nation have come to expect?

    The Prime Minister : I agree with my hon. Friend. The benefits that we see from the freedom of movement could easily be lost if we could not protect ourselves against terrorism, smuggling and illegal immigration. On border controls, the Government do not agree that article 8A requires the abolition of all controls on people at the Community’s internal frontiers. It is our policy to control the entry of nationals at the point of arrival. That is the most effective way of control for an island nation, and our European partners must understand that.

    Mr. Kinnock : Is the Prime Minister aware that today’s rise in unemployment is the 24th consecutive monthly increase? Is he aware that during the past year unemployment has increased by over half a million and that unemployment among 18 to 24-year-olds has increased by more than 200,000? Against that background, does he think it right to continue cutting Government funding for training?

    The Prime Minister : Any increase in unemployment is one too many. I accept that, and I agree with the right hon. Gentleman about it. The only way we shall create permanent jobs that will be sustained and will provide proper career opportunities is to have the return of confidence, the right levels of investment and the right economic background. That is what we are seeking to achieve. That is the right way to deal with unemployment in the short term, the medium term and the long term. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, we have one of the most substantial training schemes that this country has ever seen or any other country has ever seen.

    Mr. Kinnock : Does not the Prime Minister yet accept that a critical part of any policy for future employment is a good, strong, continuing policy on training? The figures in the Government’s White Paper on public expenditure– [Interruption.] The figures in the Government’s own White Paper show that there is to be a continuing cut in employment training and youth training. There are 800,000 young people aged between 18 and 24 who are unemployed now. Is it not clear that the Government’s message to them is no jobs, no training, no hope?

    The Prime Minister : I do not believe that that is remotely accurate. On the substantive part of the right hon. Gentleman’s question, training is improving all the time. More workers are qualified–up to 73 per cent.–more people are staying on at school for more skills and more firms are investing in training, the figure for which is now £20 billion. This Government have created 300,000 training places whereas the Labour Government created 700. Just a few weeks ago the British people were well aware of which party would put the nation back to work and they made their choice decisively.

    Mr. Kinnock : Since the Prime Minister wishes to refer to it, the fact is that under the last Labour Government unemployment reached a maximum of 1.25 million. It is now well over double that. This Government have never managed to get unemployment down to that level. Why will he not face up to the problem of unemployment, accept his own figures and understand that the Conservatives have not only sabotaged employment in this country and lost 1 million jobs in the last two years, but are not providing employment training in the way that should be provided in any modern country, let alone one with 2.7 million unemployed people?

    The Prime Minister : The right hon. Gentleman should sometimes recollect that there never have been a Labour Government who did not push unemployment up dramatically. A higher proportion of our nation–70 per cent., a higher proportion than anywhere else–is in work. Our job creation record throughout the 1980s was better than that of most European Community countries, providing over 2 million more jobs than in 1983. The right hon. Gentleman takes a selective view of the rest of the world. He ignores it when he talks of recession. He accepts it when he talks of unemployment. He might need a more consistent line if he becomes leader of the Socialist International.

    Mr. David Evans : I congratulate the Prime Minister on his stunning victory at the general election. Will he take this opportunity to congratulate the people of Welwyn Hatfield on getting rid of a Labour administration after 13 years? Will he assure me that we shall not hold the next Conservative party conference in Sheffield and that we shall not close the conference in total darkness with fireworks going off? [Interruption.] They might all turn out to be damp squibs, as happened to the Labour party.

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend makes his own distinctive points in his own distinctive way, and I have no doubt that the voters of Welwyn Hatfield, in returning him, have seen him do precisely what they expected of him. In response to his direct question, I can certainly confirm that the next Conservative party conference will not be held in Sheffield.

     

    Q2. Mr. Wareing : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 May.

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

    Mr. Wareing : Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when his predecessor first entered the House, it was five months before she made her maiden speech and that, when she did, she introduced a Bill which opened up local authority meetings to the press and public? In view of the secrecy that presently surrounds the meetings of hospital trusts, will the right hon. Gentleman introduce legislation under which all management committee meetings are open to the press and public?

    The Prime Minister : I have told the hon. Gentleman that the Chancellor of the Duchy is examining areas of government where it is possible to remove levels of secrecy. That has begun and will continue. We shall make the outcome known to Parliament in due course.

    Mr. Bill Walker : When my right hon. Friend is carrying out his review, and is taking stock of the situation, of Scotland, will he bear it in mind that his leadership and the firm stand taken by him and the Secretary of State for Scotland against assemblies and parliaments in Edinburgh resulted in the splendid general election result and the subsequent splendid result at the district elections, in which Perth and Kinross district council was restored handsomely to Conservative control?

    The Prime Minister : As my hon. Friend knows, I believe that the Union has ensured that Scotland plays a full part in the most stable political entity to be found anywhere in Europe. It has served the whole of the United Kingdom well. It has certainly served Scotland and England well. Indeed, as the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) said recently, Scotland is alive and flourishing. Indeed it is. We welcome that. It is alive and flourishing within the Union.

    Mr. Ashdown : Does the Prime Minister realise that, despite his attacks on our proposals for a carbon tax during the election campaign, we now greatly welcome his conversion to the case for a carbon tax to tackle global warming? Does he accept that the European Commission’s proposals are too timid and too conditional to attack that problem effectively, that the next response must come from the Americans and that he has a role in persuading the Americans to make that response?

    The Prime Minister : There are many ways to deal with the problem of CO and we still await the Commission’s formal proposals. We cannot yet be certain what it will do. It is absolutely clear that it would make sense to adopt such a tax only if our major competitors in the world also did so, both for environmental reasons and because acting alone would harm competitiveness in this country and across Europe. I shall discuss with Japan and the United States what action might be taken, but I have no intention of prejudging what that action might be.

    Mr. Brandreth : Did my right hon. Friend happen to see the punch-up in the Italian Parliament yesterday, when it was attempting to elect a new President? Does he see that as an example of the benefits of proportional representation or merely a dress rehearsal for the election of a new loser- -so sorry–new leader of the Labour party?

    The Prime Minister : I did not see that particular report, but I am aware of Italy’s present difficulties as it tries to determine a new Government after an election that has split the political parties through using proportional representation.

     

    Q3. Mr. Janner : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 May.

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

    Mr. Janner : Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in the midst of a viciously high level of crime, the Leicestershire police force has been forced to cut its budget for the current year by more than £1 million? Will he, therefore, please take this opportunity to deny reports that the Government are placing pressure on his right hon. and learned and reticent Friend the Home Secretary to cut central funding for police forces, because to do so would be irresponsible, dangerous and totally unacceptable?

    The Prime Minister : Those who know my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary would not suggest that he is readily susceptible to pressure. He will be as concerned as the Government have been in recent years to ensure that the police force is equipped for its battle against crime.

     

    Q4. Mr. Carrington : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 May.

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

    Mr. Carrington : Some pensioners and other people on low incomes in Fulham often struggle to pay their heating bills. Will my right hon. Friend, therefore, join me in warmly welcoming the 3 per cent. reduction in gas prices announced today? Does not that show that privatisation, if properly and effectively regulated, is to the benefit of everyone?

    The Prime Minister : Yes, I welcome the 3 per cent. cut in prices that has been announced. It adds to the reductions in recent years since privatisation took effect and illustrates clearly the benefits of competition.

     

    Q5. Ms. Hoey : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 May.

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

    Ms. Hoey : Does the Prime Minister agree that even if every single empty property in local authority and private sector control were used for families, there would still be a huge shortage of affordable, rented housing? Will the Prime Minister tell the House simply how many affordable, rented homes he plans to build in the next Parliament?

    The Prime Minister : It would be a great improvement if all those empty properties, largely in the ownership of Labour authorities, were made available for letting. It would also make a tremendous difference to the availability of property if the Labour party would remove its long-standing prejudices against the private sector, which discourage so many people from bringing private property into the market for letting.

     

    Q6. Mr. Hague : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 May.

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

    Mr. Hague : Will my right hon. Friend join me in welcoming today’s report that, in line with the patients charter, the General Medical Council is to propose the biggest changes in the regulation of doctors for 150 years? Will he also welcome yesterday’s statement by the British Medical Association that, from now on, it wishes to work with the Government in implementing health reforms? Is not the increasing acceptance of the Government’s health policies by the medical profession a vindication at last of the work that has been done in the past few years to ensure that the health service today is better funded, better managed and provides a better service to its patients than ever before?

    The Prime Minister : I very much agree with my hon. Friend and with the statement made by the chairman of the British Medical Association. We now have a far better working relationship. As a party, we are looking ahead. Indeed, it is only the Labour party which fails to look ahead to see the changes, improvements and benefits taking place in the health service as a result of our funding and our reforms.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 13 May 1992

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 13th May 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Security Services

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister whether he proposes to bring the operation of the Secret Intelligence Service and the Security Service under parliamentary scrutiny.

    The Prime Minister : The security and intelligence services are all subject to close ministerial oversight, and Ministers are responsible to Parliament. There are now also commissioners for the Security Service and interception of communications who produce an annual report to Parliament. Those who have grievances have access to tribunals and sources of redress. There will be an opportunity for Parliament to debate such matters when legislation is brought forward.

     

    Police Authority

    Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the police authority for all the non-Home Office official police forces and/or constabularies.

    The Prime Minister : A number of bodies have powers under legislation other than the Police Act 1964 to appoint persons having some of the powers of a constable. A full list of such organisations is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The larger forces include the British Transport police, the Ministry of Defence police, the Royal Parks constabulary and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority constabulary. The performance of the duties and functions associated with police authorities normally rests with the Government department, local authority, or private company responsible for the constables concerned.

     

    European Community

    Mr. Temple-Morris : To ask the Prime Minister what priority, during the United Kingdom’s approaching presidency of the European Community, he gives to making progress on creating a stable future for United Kingdom agriculture as opposed to other issues such as enlargement or EC institutional change.

    The Prime Minister : The Government set out the right approach for the future of agriculture in the United Kingdom in the statement published last autumn, “Our Farming Future”. This stressed the importance of the need for effective and substantial CAP reform. We shall pursue that objective during our presidency alongside our other objectives for the future of the Community.

     

    Carbon Dioxide Emissions

    Mr. Dafis : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to call for a 30 per cent. reduction in levels of carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom by the year 2000.

    The Prime Minister : No. The United Nations intergovernmental negotiating committee on a framework convention on climate change unanimously adopted a draft convention on 9 May which would commit developed countries to adopt policies and measures aimed at returning emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to their 1990 levels by the year 2000. The convention will be open for signature during the United Nations conference on environment and development next month.

     

    Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

    Mr. David Martin : To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the responsibilities of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

    The Prime Minister : In addition to his duties in relation to the Duchy, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is responsible to me for the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (OMCS), and the new Office of Science and Technology (OST).

    He will be responsible for development of the citizens charter initiative ensuring sustained improvement in public services; this includes the charterline and the charter mark scheme, the toughening up of inspectorates, and the extension of contracting out and market testing. Above all, the Chancellor is responsible for ensuring that those who provide public services are practising the charter principles.

    The Chancellor of the Duchy is also responsible for the “next steps” programme, improving efficiency and effectiveness in the civil service, and the market testing initiative; for advice on duties and standards in the civil service, the recruitment and development of civil servants, senior and public appointments, equal opportunities, occupational health and certain other non-financial aspects of personnel management. He will take responsibility for three executive agencies : the Civil Service College, the Recruitment and Assessment Services and the Occupational Health Service.

    The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be responsible for policy on open government, with a view to identifying areas of excessive secrecy and carrying forward moves towards greater openness. He will lead a review of specific statutory restrictions on the disclosure of information and the scope for greater access to personal records, while safeguarding personal privacy. The Chancellor of the Duchy will also be responsible for science and technology issues and for the Office of Science and Technology (OST). The OST will be responsible for the Advisory Council on Science and Technology (ACOST) and for the Advisory Board for the Research Councils (ABRC); for the Office of Science and Technology budget which includes the science budget; and also for the five research councils.

    The Treasury will remain responsible for financial management, civil service pay, industrial relations, other pay related aspects of personnel management, relocation policies and civil service manpower statistics.

    Departmental Ministers remain responsible for the progress of individual charters, management issues within their departments and the operation of their executive agencies.

     

    National Heritage

    Mr. David Martin : To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for National Heritage.

    The Prime Minister : The Secretary of State for National Heritage will be responsible for many of the central areas of our national life which enhance its quality or contribute significantly to our sense of national identity. These include the present functions of the Office of Arts and Libraries–the arts, museums, galleries and libraries–together with film and the export licensing of antiques, functions which are to be transferred from the Department of Trade and Industry. He will be responsible for broadcasting, notably the review of the BBC’s charter, the press–including work on the recommendations of the Calcutt committee–and the safety of sports grounds, all duties to be transferred from the Home Office; sport, from the Department of Education and Science; tourism, from the Department of Employment; and heritage from the Department of the Environment. He will be responsible for the Historic Royal Palaces Agency.

    The Secretary of State will be responsible for the proposed national lottery and, in consultation with the Home Secretary, the legislation required to create it. The Secretary of State will also be responsible for the Millennium Fund.

     

    Cabinet Committees

    Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Prime Minister if he will retain Cabinet committees dealing with overall environmental issues and with energy efficiency in particular.

    The Prime Minister : The full list of Ministerial Cabinet Committees, with their terms of reference and membership, will be published shortly.

     

    CSCE Meeting

    Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to announce the membership of the United Kingdom delegation for the forthcoming meeting in Budapest of the new Assembly of Europe of the conference on security and co-operation in Europe; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : The appointment of the delegation is a matter for discussion through the usual channels. I will make an announcement in due course.

     

    Kurt Klebeck

    Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty’s Government will now take steps to ask the German authorities to extradite Kurt Klebeck to the United Kingdom over Nazi crimes in the Channel islands.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 11 May 1992] : Mr. Klebeck is a German national. We understand that Germany does not extradite its own nationals because of a prohibition in its constitution. We would co-operate fully with the German authorities if we were asked by them for assistance in connection with any possible proceedings in Germany.

     

    War Crimes

    Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister if he will now release in the public domain documents relating to the wartime Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands which remain classified; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 11 May 1992] : Any records relating to the wartime Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands which remain closed to the public domain will be released at the appropriate time, under the criteria of the Public Records Acts of 1958 and 1967. I will however look into the matter raised by the hon. Member.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 12 May 1992

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 12th May 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Nuclear Testing

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what response Her Majesty’s Government (a) have made to date and (b) intend to make, to the call made by the French President to halt nuclear testing.

    The Prime Minister : The Government’s policy on nuclear testing remains unchanged. The United Kingdom has a continuing requirement to sustain a minimum programme of nuclear tests to maintain the effectiveness and safety of our nuclear deterrent.

     

    Engagements

    Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 12 May.

    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.

     

    Inner-city Programmes

    Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Prime Minister which inner-city programmes, currently the responsibility of Departments, other than the Environment Department, will be transferred to the proposed urban regeneration agency.

    The Prime Minister : The responsibilities of the urban regeneration agency are being finalised. Its primary function will be to bring about the development of vacant and derelict land in urban areas and its responsibilities will reflect this.

     

    Lockerbie Bombing

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with the President of the United States the representations made to both of them by the lawyers representing the insurers of Pan American Airways in relation to the Lockerbie bombing; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 11 May 1992] : I have received no such representations.

     

    Mirror Group Pensioners

    Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Prime Minister what further recent representations he has received about the situation of pensioners of Mirror Group newspapers; what reply he is sending; what action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 11 May 1992] : I have received a number of representations about the pensioners of Mirror Group newspapers and other Maxwell pension funds. Ministers are keeping in close contact with the trustees of the Mirror Group pension schemes and other Maxwell pension funds who are attempting to resolve the ownership of assets and their return to funds. In addition, Ministers have met a number of groups representing the interests of those involved; the most recent meeting being on 6 May. As we stated in our manifesto, we are committed to reviewing the framework of law and regulation within which occupational pension schemes operate. If pension funds are unable to protect pensioners’ guaranteed minimum pensions, their state pensions will be increased as if they had never left the state earnings-related pension scheme. We have alerted social security offices to make sure that, if necessary, emergency provisions are put into effect to help anyone who needs support from the benefits system because of uncertainty as to their income.

  • PMQT – 12 May 1992

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 12th May 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Earth Summit

    Q1. Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister what are the specific objectives of Her Majesty’s Government at the Earth summit.

    The Prime Minister (Mr. John Major) : The Government’s specific objectives for the Earth summit are signature of global conventions on climate change and biodiversity ; a statement of principles on forests ; a short “Rio declaration” of environment and development principles ; a comprehensive action plan ; and reinforcement of international institutions dealing with environment and development.

    Mr. Hughes : As that was the Prime Minister’s first parliamentary answer, will he make it his No. 1 priority this Session to tackle the global environmental crisis? Is he aware that the secret documents that we have seen contain proposals which amount to a watering down of the tough energy-saving commitment and replace specific targets with vague promises, and are to be put to the European Commission tomorrow? Will the Prime Minister ensure that, at the Earth summit and thereafter, tackling the global crisis will be his priority and that of his colleagues on the world stage?

    The Prime Minister : This is an important conference–an important priority–and there is a great deal to be done. The political will is there, not just in this country but in countries around the world. It appears that the attendance at the Rio summit will be very high–and very high at Heads of Government level. I must emphasise that what is agreed at the conference is only the beginning of the work that needs to be done. Some people might set their expectations too high. There is bound to be a limited amount of success at Rio. There will be a good deal to be done subsequently in this country, in the European Community, and beyond.

    Mr. Lester : If my right hon. Friend gets a chance to watch television, I am sure that in the past two or three days, and certainly this month, he has noticed the beginning of the one world ’92 campaign, linking 66 nations’ broadcasters throughout Europe as well as the general public in preliminary matters to the Rio conference. On 30 May, it will culminate in a day of action throughout Europe and the tree of life, for which I am sure he has signed his pledge. Will he support all the work that is being done to involve the public in this issue because, however much we feel that it is important, without general public support we shall never get anywhere?

    The Prime Minister : I agree with my hon. Friend. It needs a commitment by Governments, by which I mean Governments across the world. Little will be gained if some contribute while many others do not. A great deal of commitment by individuals will also be necessary. This may be one of the areas of policy where it is often the individual driving the Government, rather than the reverse, in terms of commitment to the environment. I have little doubt that individuals in this country and beyond will commit themselves to these environmental and desirable aims.

     

    Engagements

    Q2. Mr. Janner : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 May.

    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.

    Mr. Janner : Will the right hon. Gentleman please tell the House the extent to which, in his own opinion, the Parliament of the United Kingdom should surrender sovereignty in the interests of European unity and what role he considers that a British monarch should play in influencing policy and opinion within the European Community?

    The Prime Minister : Influencing policy and opinion in the European Community at a political level is a matter for the politicians. That has been a long-established tradition and it remains the position. The position of the sovereignty of this House is a matter which we have discussed on many occasions. The sovereignty of this House is not a matter that is up for grabs–that is perfectly clear. What we have said is that there are areas where we can pool decision making in the general interests of the whole of Europe and in those circumstances it is right to pool decision making, but perhaps one of the most essential parts of the Maastricht agreement was the agreement on subsidiarity–that things must be done on a national level when they can best be done at a national level.

    Sir Anthony Grant : While recognising that miscarriages of justice are bound to take place from time to time and must be rectified, will my right hon. Friend confirm that there will be no weakening in the attitude of the Government, of the police or of the courts in the relentless battle against terrorism?

    The Prime Minister : I am certainly happy to give my hon. Friend that assurance. Terrorism is one of the most wicked and evil problems faced by this Government and by Governments across the world. There will be no weakening in our determination to fight terrorism and no weakening in our determination to work with our European partners at a European level to fight terrorism.

    Mr. Kinnock : As the Prime Minister rightly says that he wants to sweep away the cobwebs of secrecy, is that a principle that he will be applying to the financing of the Conservative party?

    The Prime Minister : The financing of the Conservative party is not a matter for the right hon. Gentleman.

     

    Q3. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 May.

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

    Mr. Banks : What representations has the Prime Minister made to President Bush to get the pilots of the A10 tank busters to submit themselves to the inquiry into the deaths of the nine service men killed by the so-called

    Madam Speaker : Order. The matter with which the hon. Gentleman is dealing is sub judice. If he can rephrase his question, I will certainly hear him.

    Mr. Banks : The Prime Minister will recall in principle terms that President Bush gave assurances to the parents of the service men who were killed that the pilots would come over here for examination. Will he tell us what representations he has made to ensure that President Bush carries out those assurances?

    The Prime Minister : As I believe the House has been told on previous occasions, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence will be drawing the families’ letters to the attention of Mr. Cheney, the United States Defence Secretary.

    Mrs. Peacock : Now that my right hon. Friend has been returned to Downing Street for a further five-year term, may I invite him–when he is planning his visits–to visit my constituency of Batley and Spen in Yorkshire where he will find much manufacturing prospering as it has been investing during the recession? He would be made most welcome on such a visit.

    The Prime Minister : I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her invitation and it is certainly one which I shall hope to take up during the course of this Parliament. I share her view about the prospects for manufacturing industry and, in particular, for the new areas of manufacturing which have flourished so much in recent years and which are so often overlooked when people talk about manufacturing in the generality.

     

    Q4. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 May.

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

    Mr. Dunnachie : What pressure has the Prime Minister put on President Bush in relation to the British soldiers who were massacred in the friendly fire incident and to fulfil the promise to their relatives? Will he tell them why nothing has been done in that respect? What does he intend to do in the future to bring that sorry state of affairs to an end?

    The Prime Minister : I responded to that point a few moments ago, as the hon. Gentleman and the House heard. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that United States officials have discussed the handling of the evidence with the coroner, who has made it clear that he accepted the United States decision not to provide witnesses. That matter has been raised at the highest level with the American Government and Defence Secretary.

     

    Q5. Mr. Gill : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 May.

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

    Mr. Gill : As the first Conservative Member whose name appears on the Order Paper for the first Prime Minister’s Question Time of the new Parliament, may I convey the congratulations of all Conservative Members to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on leading our party to its unprecedented fourth election victory? Does my right hon. Friend not agree that his strongly anti-federalist stance was instrumental in securing that general election victory? In view of today’s press reports, will he reassure the House that British sovereignty is not “insignificant”?

    The Prime Minister : I am grateful to my hon. Friend. As I said a few moments ago, decisions need to be taken as close to the citizen as possible. That was the principle of subsidiarity that we fought for and obtained in the negotiations at Maastricht. Where the nature of a problem requires a European response, we believe that it should have a European response. That was the balance that we struck, and I believe that it was the right balance.

    Mr. Wigley : The Prime Minister has again emphasised the importance of the subsidiarity concept that decisions should be taken as close as possible to the people. How will that be applied to the people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, or is it a principle which starts in Brussels and ends in London?

    The Prime Minister : The hon. Gentleman knows that we are one United Kingdom and the Government are determined that we shall remain one United Kingdom.

     

    Q6. Mr. Quentin Davies : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 May.

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

    Mr. Davies : Is my right hon. Friend aware of the enormous sense of pleasure, relief and hope in the future generated by our victory at the election under his leadership? [Interruption.] There are obviously some sour grapes on the Opposition side. Does my right hon. Friend agree that after another five years of Conservative Government, instead of this country’s performance being measured by how fast we are catching up with Germany, for the first time in 100 years we shall be a model for others in respect of economic performance, enlightened administration of public services, and social peace and cohesion?

    The Prime Minister : I am grateful to my hon. Friend and I agree with him. We very much want wealth and welfare to go hand in hand, and I believe that the fear of the election of a Labour Government had been holding that back. Since polling day we have seen a dramatic change in the confidence of the markets and individuals. Share values have risen by about a seventh, sterling is up, and interest rates have been cut by a further per cent., bringing us almost level with German rates for the first time in a quarter of a century. That is good news for British industry, for British investment and, over time, very good news for British employment prospects.

    Mr. Cryer : As the Prime Minister is so complacent about British manufacturing industry and claims that there is much good news about, will he assure the House that he is not prepared in the GATT negotiations to sacrifice the textile industry to gain advantages on behalf of the farmers who have supported the Conservative party? Will he give an unqualified guarantee that he will fight to keep jobs in the British textile industry, as many thousands of jobs have been lost in the past years of Conservative rule? We want to keep that industry going in Bradford and elsewhere. Will he give that guarantee?

    The Prime Minister : What I have never understood in the hon. Gentleman’s remarks about manufacturing is why he and his colleagues are always so keen to assume that British manufacturing industry is failing, doing unwell and needs special assistance and special subsidies to survive. The reality is that the United Kingdom share of world trade in manufactures rose in 1991 for the third successive year. Right across the country we have seen growth in areas of manufacturing industry which did not show signs of growth in earlier years.

     

    Q7. Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 May.

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

    Sir Thomas Arnold : Does my right hon. Friend agree that the recent actions of Ofgas and Oftel to reduce prices still further show that the community charge has real teeth when it comes to protecting the interests of the consumer?

    The Prime Minister : The work of Ofgas and Oftel goes right to the heart of the citizen’s charter. The principles of those two regulatory bodies are important and the citizens charter underlines our commitment to put the consumer first. The regulators have achieved significant price cuts. British Telecom’s prices have been cut by 27 per cent. in real terms, British Gas has cut domestic prices and standing charges, and the regulator is demanding more cuts. The impact of the citizen’s charter will continue to put the citizen in the forefront of people’s minds when state prices are determined.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 11 May 1992

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 11th May 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    EC Committee of the Regions

    Ms. Quin : To ask the Prime Minister if he will now make a statement on United Kingdom regional representation on the EC Committee of the Regions agreed at Maastricht.

    The Prime Minister : Ministers are considering the nomination of the 24 United Kingdom members (and 24 alternates) on the Committee of the Regions.

     

    Minister for War Veterans

    Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Minister for war veterans, widows and dependants, within either the Ministry of Defence or the Department of Social Security.

    The Prime Minister : Responsibility for matters affecting war veterans, their widows and dependants forms part of the departmental remit of a number of Ministers. There are no plans to change this arrangement.

     

    Lockerbie Bombing

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will make a statement on the representations made to the United Kingdom Government by the Government of Libya about the proposed extradition of two Libyan nationals in relation to the Lockerbie bombing; (2) if he will discuss with the President of the United States the representations made to both of them by the Arab League in relation to the Lockerbie bombing and policy towards Libya; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : We have had various approaches from Libyans and intermediaries over the Lockerbie bombing. None of them indicates that Libya is ready to comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions 731 and 748. We have worked closely with the United States and France and shall continue to do so.

     

    War Crimes

    Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister if he will state the Government’s policy towards war crimes in the Channel Islands.

    The Prime Minister : The Government’s policy is that people who have committed murder, manslaughter or culpable homicide as violations of the laws and customs of war in German-held territory during the second world war should not be able to use the privilege of residence in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands to escape justice.

     

    Church Livings

    Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Prime Minister for how many church livings he has the responsibility of appointment.

    The Prime Minister : I am responsible for recommending clergy to Her Majesty the Queen for appointment to 206 benefices where the Crown has rights of presentation. Of these, 126 belong to the Crown in full right, while appointment to the remaining 80 is undertaken alternately or sequentially depending upon the number of other patrons having rights of presentation to those benefices.

  • Press Release – Prime Minister’s Comments on the New Conservative Party Chairman – 11 May 1992

    Below is the text of the Conservative Party Press Release on Mr Major’s comments on the appointment of the new Conservative Party Chairman, Sir Norman Fowler. It was issued on Monday 11th May 1992, reference 859/92.

    APPOINTMENT OF NEW PARTY CHAIRMAN

    The Rt Hon John Major MP, Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party, has appointed the Rt Hon Sir Norman Fowler MP (Sutton Coldfield) Chairman of the Conservative Party with effect from Monday, 11 May 1992.

    Commenting on the appointment the Prime Minister said, “I am delighted that Norman Fowler has accepted my invitation to become Chairman of the Conservative Party. He has wide experience and formidable political skills and I very much look forward to working with him. I can think of no-one better to prepare the Conservative Party for the many challenges that lie ahead”.