The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Category: Prime Minister (1990-1997)

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

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • PMQT Written Answers – 21 April 1994

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Parliamentary Questions

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

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

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

     

    Engagements

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

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

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

     

    Tigris and Euphrates Valleys

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

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

  • PMQT – 21 April 1994

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

  • PMQT Written Answers – 20 April 1994

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Council of Ministers

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

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

     

    Friendly Countries

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

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

     

    Appointments

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

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

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

    The Lord Bridges GCMG

    Sir John Blelloch KCB

    Sir Trevor Holdsworth

    Sir Charles Huxtable KCB CBE

    Sir Robin Ibbs KBE

    The right hon. Peter Shore MP

    The right hon. the Lord Thomson of Monifieth KT

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

  • PMQT – 19 April 1994

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • PMQT Written Answers – 18 April 1994

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Allivane

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

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

     

    Advisers

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

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

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

    Name |Department

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

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

    Dr. E. Cottrell |Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

    Dr. W. Eltis |Trade and Industry

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

    Mrs. S. Hogg |Prime Minister’s Office

    Ms S. Hole |Chief Whip’s Office

    1. Kemp |Trade and Industry

    Mrs. T. Keswick |Treasury

    Mrs. E. Laing |Transport

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

    Ms S. McEwen |House of Lords

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

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

    1. O’Connor |Environment

    Sir I. Pearce |Transport

    Lord Poole |Prime Minister’s Office

    Ms K. Ramsay |Prime Minister’s Office

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

    Lady Strathnaver |Trade and Industry

    1. True |Prime Minister’s Office

    Miss A. Warburton |Prime Minister’s Office

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

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

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

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

    Table 1

    Department Number of Advisers

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

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

    Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food:

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

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

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

    Ministry of Defence

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

    Department of Education

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

    Department of Employment

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

    Department of the Environment

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

    Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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

    Department of Health <1>

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

    Home Office

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

    House of Lords

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

    Department of National Heritage

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

    Northern Ireland Office

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

    Scottish Office

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

    Department of Social Security <1>

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

    Department of Trade and Industry

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

    Department of Transport

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

    Her Majesty’s Treasury

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

    Department of Energy

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

    Privy Council Office

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

    The Lord Privy’s Seals Office

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

    Welsh Office

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

    <1> Formerly DHSS

    Table 2

    Number paid this amount

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

    Belize

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

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

     

    Parliamentary Questions

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

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

     

    Scott Inquiry

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

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

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

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

     

    European Union (Qualified Majority Voting)

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

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

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

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

     

    Labour-controlled Local Authorities

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

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

     

    Civil Servants

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

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

     

    Disabled People

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

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

  • PMQT Written Answers – 15 April 1994

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Iraq

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

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

  • PMQT Written Answers – 14 April 1994

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 14th April 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Meigle

    Q7. Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Meigle.

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

     

    Aberdeen

    Q9. Mr. Raymond S. Robertson : To ask the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Aberdeen in the near future.

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

     

    Engagements

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

    Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 April.

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

     

    Kashmir

    Mr. Cox : To ask the Prime Minister if he was able to clarify, in his recent discussions with the Indian Prime Minister, whether the Indian National Commission on Human Rights will be able to look at the situation in Indian-administered Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : I discussed the Indian Human Rights Commission in general terms with the Indian Prime Minister during our meeting on 14 March. We have welcomed the Commission’s decision to conduct its first investigation into the incident at Bijbehara in Kashmir in October. Its report is due to be published on 17 April.

  • PMQT – 14 April 1994

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 14th April 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Duncan Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 April.

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

    Mr. Duncan Smith : Is my right hon. Friend aware that my socialist-controlled council of Waltham Forest, which is now being investigated by the ombudsman for malpractice, set a council tax for band D of £587, supported by the Liberal party, whereas the Conservative group would have set one of more than £100 less? Does not that demonstrate clearly, first, that people pay in bands, not averages, secondly, that Conservative councils would cost people less and…

    Madam Speaker : Order. I am determined that this should be Question Time, not speech time. I therefore appeal to all hon. Members for brisk questions and answers.

    The Prime Minister : Well, my hon. Friend is quite right. Whatever bands they may be concerned with, council tax payers will pay more under Labour and Liberal authorities than they would under any Conservative authority. I am sure that voters will note that on 5 May.

    Mrs. Beckett : Is not it a scandal that, because of the changes that the Government have made in the health service, elderly people are being denied the right to hospital treatment on the ground of their age?

    The Prime Minister : The right hon. Lady is either ill-informed or scaremongering. As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Health said this morning, the reports to which the right hon. Lady refers, no doubt from this morning’s “Today” programme, are wholly irresponsible. Neither patient in the BBC report had been refused treatment; both had been offered better options. It is utterly wrong of the right hon. Lady to raise the matter in that manner and to continue to cause needless anxiety to millions of people.

    Mrs. Beckett : What is scaring people is not what we are saying but what the Government are doing with the health service. The Prime Minister should know that people are being refused treatment because of what the British Medical Association calls the “undeniable fact” that there is now a two-tier health service. The GP of one of the people to whom the Prime Minister referred said :

    “Since contracts were introduced, this kind of predicament arises all the time.”

    What is that but a two-tier health service?

    The Prime Minister : Despite the fact that the right hon. Lady has peddled an untruth and continues to do so, there is no policy

    Hon. Members : Withdraw.

    Madam Speaker : Order. I am sure that the Prime Minister will reflect and I hope that he will withdraw that last remark.

    The Prime Minister : Despite the fact– [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. I will have order in this House.

    The Prime Minister : Despite the fact that what the right hon. Lady says is inaccurate and she has just been told so again– [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. I do wish that the House would listen to the comments that are being made and not make such a row. I have asked the Prime Minister politely to reflect and I hope that he will withdraw what he said. [Interruption.] Order. I am sure that if the House were to listen, it would hear him do that.

    The Prime Minister : The right hon. Lady is aware, from what I said a few moments ago, that in both cases she has misled the House. [Hon. Members :– “Withdraw.”] In neither instance was treatment withheld from those patients. In both instances, they were offered better treatment. I hope that the right hon. Lady will now withdraw the imputation of a few moments ago.

    Hon. Members : Withdraw.

    Mrs. Beckett : I am not aware that I have misled the House. Indeed, there is a letter from one of the hospitals concerned apologising for the way in which the patient in question was treated. That does not sound to me like something which did not happen. I ask the Prime Minister : why will he and his colleagues not recognise reality? Elderly people are being clobbered by VAT on their gas and electricity and when they are ill they are being refused treatment in hospital. What has the Prime Minister got against the elderly?

    The Prime Minister : The fact that the right hon. Lady changed tack shows most clearly that she knows that she is wrong. Once again, the Labour party is needlessly alarming people, precisely as it did before the election by claiming that we would privatise the national health service. The Labour party will use any scare, at any time, for any reason, providing it believes that it will help its own party-political ambitions.

    Mr. Robathan : What action will my right hon. Friend take to ensure that taxpayers’ money is not wasted on ludicrous pay-outs to former service women who joined the armed forces on the understanding that they would be obliged to leave should they become pregnant?

    The Prime Minister : I am not aware of the particular case to which my hon. Friend refers, but, as he has raised the matter, I will ask my right and learned hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to examine it and report to me about it.

     

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

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

    Mr. Turner : Does the Prime Minister have any plans to visit Wolverhampton in the near future? If he has, I am sad to have to tell him that the good folk of Wolverhampton are completely brassed off with his Government’s policies and, I am sad to say, with him. I have to ask the Prime Minister whether, if the local elections go badly for him, he will do the noble thing with his Government and resign.

    The Prime Minister : I know that the hon. Gentleman would want his constituents to know the truth about matters, so perhaps he might mention to them that, under this Government and the last few years of my predecessor’s Government, unemployment in his constituency fell by 23 per cent. Perhaps he could tell his constituents that. Perhaps he could tell them that there is now no one waiting for more than two years for health service treatment as there once was. Perhaps he could tell them about the extra millions of pounds allocated to the health authority to help reduce waiting lists. Perhaps if the hon. Gentleman carried some of those messages to his constituents in Wolverhampton at the next election he would no longer be here.

    Mr. Hawkins : Does my right hon. Friend agree with me that the Labour party, where it is in office in local government, is to be judged on its record? Will he also agree with me that Manchester, under socialism, now owes nearly as much as El Salvador–a country which has been ravaged by 10 years of civil war?

    The Prime Minister : If the Labour party in local government is judged on its record it will not be in power any longer in local government.

     

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

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

    Mr. Keen : Is the Prime Minister not ashamed to appear to take so lightly the accusations that, in this year when we are specially remembering those who gave so much 50 years ago in the last war, because of the Government health reforms the people who made those sacrifices are now being denied the treatment that they so desperately need?

    The Prime Minister : What the hon. Gentleman says is wrong. Perhaps he might reflect that, although the elderly population has risen in numbers in England and Wales by about 9 per cent. since 1979, expenditure on elderly people has risen by approximately 40 per cent. over the same period. That is to accommodate the fact that more treatments are now available, better treatments are now available, waiting times are shorter and no one is denied proper treatment at any stage in the national health service.

     

    Q4. Mr. David Evans : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 April.

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

    Mr. Evans : Is my right hon. Friend aware that Janice takes quite a lot of interest in this place and she would like to know whether it was a Conservative party that won the last four general elections, with a record 14 million votes in the last election? Could he also tell Janice whether it was a Conservative Government who imposed a higher rate of tax in 1978? Was it 40p? [Hon. Members :– “No.”] Was it 60p ? [Hon. Members :– “No.”] Was it 70p ? [Hon. Members :– “No.”] Was it 90p ? [Hon. Members :– “No.”] Was it 98p? [Hon. Members :– “Yes.”] And if it was not a Conservative Government, was it that lot opposite ?

    Hon. Members : Yes.

    The Prime Minister : I believe that the answer is yes, and I think that my hon. Friend can safely tell Janice that.

    Ms Glenda Jackson : Is the Prime Minister aware that the chief executive of the Royal Free hospital trust in my constituency today issued a statement apologising for the fact that, as a result of the Government’s obscene internal market policies, a 70-year-old man was denied treatment at that hospital? Is he inferring that the chief executive of the Royal Free is attempting to mislead the House and the country and is scaremongering?

    The Prime Minister : Perhaps the hon. Lady would like to tell the House how many more patients the Royal Free has treated since the health service reforms. Perhaps she would like to do that and stop mis-stating matters.

     

    Q5. Mr. Gallie : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 April.

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

    Mr. Gallie : Does my right hon. Friend recall the words of doom, gloom and condemnation–the words of the right hon. and learned Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith)–at the time of the Leyland DAF collapse a year or two ago? Is my right hon. Friend aware of the successful rebirth of the activities previously undertaken by that company? Is he aware of the considerable increase in axle sales from Scottish Stampings in my constituency of Ayr as a consequence?

    The Prime Minister : I am aware of that and I think that it is extremely encouraging. It is part of what I believe to be a bright future for the Scottish economy. Equally, it shows how right we were to resist the demands from all the Opposition parties to spend extra money on Leyland DAF. They still have the same old interventionist, corporatist, 1960s policies. Leyland DAF has done far better without the sort of help that they would have forced down its throat.

    Mr. Mullin : Has the Prime Minister had a chance to read yesterday’s report of the Select Committee on Home Affairs on the funding of political parties, particularly the minority report that starts on page 38? Is No. 10 Downing street still being used for Tory party fund-raising dinners? If so, is not that a misuse of public property?

    The Prime Minister : I use Downing street to meet business men in the same way as the Labour party used Downing street to meet the trade unions.

     

    Ministerial Visits

    Q6. Mr. Heald : To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit north Hertfordshire.

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

    Mr. Heald : Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating Letchworth Garden City on its 90th anniversary, which is currently being celebrated with a musical extravaganza called “Why Aren’t We All Dancing?”? Does he agree that, with unemployment down by 13 per cent. in the last year, with house prices up by 4 per cent. and with a council tax half that of the neighbouring Labour-controlled Stevenage borough council, people in Letchworth and north Hertfordshire have every reason to be dancing–dancing on the Labour party in May and June?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend makes a compelling case, and I have no doubt that that is what local people will do on 5 May.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 13 April 1994

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 13th April 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Child Migrants

    Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Prime Minister if he will now meet representatives of the Child Migrant Trust to discuss the British child migrants scheme and Government policy towards former child migrants.

    The Prime Minister : The Government’s policy towards former child migrants was debated in the Adjournment debate initiated by the hon. Member on 22 November 1993, Official Report, columns 301-8.

    Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Prime Minister which Government Departments hold personal files relating to individual child migrants and their families.

    The Prime Minister : The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis), gave details of the policy files held by the Department of Health and the Public Record Office in the Adjournment debate on 22 November 1993, Official Report, columns 305-6. No Government Department holds personal files relating to individual child migrants and their families.

     

    Voluntary Bodies

    Sir Jim Spicer : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total amount paid in grants by central Government Departments to voluntary bodies in the financial year 1992-93; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : Central Government funding of voluntary organisations in 1992-93 amounted to £3,925 million. Of this, £3,362 million was payments to housing associations and £563 million went directly to voluntary organisations to support the provision of services and a wide range of activities and projects. The latter figure shows that Government funding of the voluntary sector increased in cash terms by 15 per cent. and in real terms by 11 per cent. over the level of provision in 1991-92–£490 million. Between 1979-80 and 1992-93, the level of Government support for voluntary bodies has risen by 172 per cent. in real terms.

    The amount spent under individual departmental programmes in 1992-93 was as follows :

    |£

    ———————————————————————————————–

    Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |209,248

    Defence |16,555,426

    Education |7,337,719

    Employment

    Direct grants |35,452,818

    Equal Opportunities Commission |22,000

    Environment (including Energy Efficiency Office)

    Direct grants |25,542,597

    Urban programme |51,700,000

    Housing corporations |2,862,000,000

    Countryside Commission |1,242,000

    English Nature |621,000

    Rural Development Commission |4,595,000

    Derelict land grant |317,000

    Foreign and Commonwealth Office |2,697,820

    Overseas Development Administration |147,426,026

    Health

    Direct grants |52,138,716

    Health Education Authority |2,450,755

    Home Office

    Direct grants |50,596,492

    Commission for Racial Equality |702,539

    National Heritage

    Direct grants |566,808

    Sports Council |14,535,000

    Northern Ireland Office

    Direct grants |18,455,323

    Housing associations and societies |57,404,589

    Sports Council for Northern Ireland |658,037

    Youth Council for Northern Ireland 1,357,803

    Scottish Office

    Direct grants |25,674,985

    Urban programme |46,618,000

    Housing associations |260,000,000

    Scottish National Heritage |1,360,000

    Highland and Islands Enterprise |1,000,000

    Sports Council for Scotland |1,527,694

    Social Security |14,094,810

    Trade and Industry |13,303,996

    Transport |509,615

    Welsh Office

    Direct grants |12,007,481

    Urban programme |5,110,000

    Joint finance |274,535

    Development Board for Rural Wales |470,510

    Housing for Wales (Tai Cymru) – grants to housing associations |182,323,223

    Sports Council for Wales and Play Wales Management Committee

    Grand Total |3,924,946,565

    I am placing in the Library of the House a list of voluntary bodies funded by the Government in 1992-93, other than those funded under housing programmes and the urban programme or via non-departmental public bodies.

     

    Ex-service Men

    Mr. Morgan : To ask the Prime Minister what consultations he has had with ex-service men’s organisations regarding the proposed participation of former axis powers ex-service men’s representatives at the 1995 50th anniversary commemorations of the ending of world war II or Remembrance day parades; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 31 March 1994] : The commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the end of world war II will include a service in St. Paul’s cathedral, a parade in central London, a lunch or dinner for visiting Heads of State and a number of other events throughout the country. Peace and reconciliation will feature strongly in themes for these events.

    The Ministry of Defence is leading the planning for the Government, but, at this early stage, no decision on the nature of the parade has been taken. The Ministry of Defence will consult a variety of appropriate organisations, including veterans’ associations in the United Kingdom, over the content of the commemorations before final decisions are taken.

    There are, however, no plans for veterans’ representatives from former axis powers to take part.