The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Category: Prime Minister (1990-1997)

  • Mr Major’s Comments on Back to Basics – 26 January 1994

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s comments during an interview held on 26th January 1994 relating to Back to Basics.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked about whether back to basics had a moral element]

    PRIME MINISTER:

    But it does. It is genuinely extremely difficult to present a complex position like this with total clarity.

    The whole concept of “back to basics” wasn’t the title we gave it. I referred to “back to basics” with a small “b”, other people put a big “B” on it later if I could make that point.

    But the principle of it has a moral dimension, that is certainly true. The civic obligation that people have to other people, that clearly is a part of “back to basics”, the belief that you should accept the implicit responsibilities that go with your own extended family and the obligation that you naturally owe to people who are your neighbours. We don’t want to see a society in which every tiny unit is cocooned in their own self-interest with no concern for the people or neighbourhood that surrounds them. Clearly, that is part of what we seek in the policy so it does have a moral dimension.

    What I don’t think it was expressly designed to do was to deal with the individual and personal peccadilloes of people. We are an imperfect race we humans and to draw black and white rules about individuals’ personal behaviour is extremely difficult to do because they are all different and the circumstances of each case are never identical – they may superficially look identical but they are not.

    One of the “back to basics” characteristics that I think is very prevalent in the British is the degree of tolerance and understanding they tend to show and I think in areas of personal, human indiscretions that tolerance and understanding is an important part of the moral dimension itself.

    Of course, what people are concerned about is the standard set by public figures – that is what you meant by the question – and I do believe that although one can’t set down absolutely black and white hard and fast rules, there is a general obligation upon people in public life to try and maintain high standards. I think that is right.

  • Mr Major’s Statement at the Launch of the Rio Documents – 25 January 1994

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s statement at the launch of the Rio Documents on Tuesday 25th January 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    When I, and 117 other Heads of Government, put our names to the Rio agreements in June 1992, we all knew it was just a beginning. The environmental challenges the world faces are immense. We all knew that signatures in Rio would mean nothing unless they resulted in action at home.

    Today we are launching four documents which take the Rio process forward.

    – our Climate change plan – to meet our commitment to return the UK’s CO2 emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000; a commitment now backed by substantive measures to change the way we use energy;

    – our biodiversity plan – to show how we propose to conserve our natural heritage for the benefit of future generations and for the rest of the world;

    – our forestry plan – setting out how we propose to manage our forests in a sustainable way.

    Over-arching all these, is the UK’s strategy for sustainable development. It is a long and complex document. I make no apology for that. It is a big and difficult subject. But it is one that is crucial to the quality of life of everyone in the country.

    Sustainable development is a jargon expression. But the problem it addresses is real. It is about meeting the global environmental challenges we face – how to tackle climate change, how to remove the threat to the ozone layer, how to preserve the variety of plant and animal life.

    They may sound remote to many people. But they’re not. And much of sustainable development is very real to people. It is about ensuring the good quality of the air we breathe in our cities, the water we drink, maintaining the countryside we all enjoy. All this does not mean calling a halt to economic growth – it means ensuring that the growth we need does not exact an unacceptable price from our environment.

    It is a huge task. A task too big for government alone. The report has been drawn up only after long consultation with business, voluntary bodies and local authorities. John Gummer will be explaining how we propose to involve them all in taking the strategy forward and how we plan to involve individual citizens.

    But government also requires advice. We are often operating in uncharted territory. We are learning as we go along. The environment requires us to think on a longer time scale than Ministers and civil servants often need to. It requires us to think beyond the normal pigeon-holing of Departmental responsibility. In that task, we need frank advice of the highest quality.

    For that reason I am establishing a panel of people with long and distinguished track records in science, business and the environment to aid the Government in this task:

    – Sir Crispin Tickell – a man whose environmental credentials are known to you all as Director of the Green College Centre for Environmental Policy and Understanding, Chairman of the International Institute for Environment and Development and who has, most recently, been chairing the advisory committee on the Darwin Initiative;

    – Lord Alexander – under whose guidance NatWest Bank had become widely renowned as an environmental innovator;

    – Dr Anne MacLaren – Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society, a distinguished scientist with a European reputation;

    – Lord Selborne – Chairman of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee who has tremendous breadth in practical nature conservation in which the UK leads the world;

    – and Sir John Houghton – Chairman of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution – who, more than anyone, has been responsible for pushing climate change to the top of the international agenda.

    I am delighted that Sir Crispin, Lord Selborne and Sir John can be with us today.

    The task of the Panel is to give independent advice on issues of strategic importance to the Government as a whole. In particular:-

    * to keep in view general sustainability issues at home and abroad

    • to identify key threats and opportunities; and
    • to monitor progress and consider priorities.

    I am grateful to them. There are few tasks more important than securing the well-being of future generations.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 25 January 1994

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 25th January 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Kashmir

    Mr. Pike : To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had in the last six months regarding Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : I discussed Kashmir at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in October with the Prime Minister of Pakistan. We regularly raise Kashmir in our discussions with the Indian and Pakistan Governments.

     

    Arms Supplies (Iraq)

    Mr. Kaufman : To ask the Prime Minister what action he has taken to ascertain who drew up the original draft of the letter about arms supplies to Iraq that he sent to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 17 February 1992 and who made deletions in that draft to alter it to the form in which the Prime Minister sent the aforesaid letter to the right hon. Member; what explanation he has received for the deletions; and what action he intends to take (a) in regard to responsibility for the deletions and (b) in regard to writing to the aforesaid right hon. Member to correct the false impression that he now acknowledges his letter gave.

    The Prime Minister : My Office has supplied Lord Justice Scott’s inquiry with the further information he requested. The issues arising are a matter for Lord Justice Scott. As will be apparent from my evidence to the inquiry, I do not accept that my letter to the right hon. Gentleman was misleading.

     

    Public Appointments

    Dr. Wright : To ask the Prime Minister which public appointments are handled by the No. 10 appointments secretary.

    The Prime Minister : My appointments secretary assists me over a range of appointments in Church and state for which I am responsible, particularly those where the appointment is made by Her Majesty the Queen on my advice.

     

    New Year’s Honours List

    Mr. Bayley : To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a list of the people included in this year’s new year’s honours list with their place of residence by standard region and their occupation.

    The Prime Minister : No. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

     

    British Empire Forces

    Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister where the records of all the soldiers of the British empire forces, who were sentenced to death during the first world war but whose sentences were subsequently commuted, are located; and if he will now arrange for them to be made available in the Public Record Office.

    The Prime Minister : The courts martial records of British service men who were sentenced to death during the first world war but whose sentences were subsequently commuted have regrettably not survived. The available evidence suggests they were lost when a German bomb hit the main war office and Army repository in 1940.

    The availability of the courts martial records of other British empire forces is a matter that should be pursued with each of the countries concerned.

     

    Government Successes (Criteria)

    Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister what are the criteria by which Her Majesty’s Government will measure their success in 1994 Official Report, column 849 .

    The Prime Minister : By the success of our policies in all areas of national life.

     

    Back to Basics

    Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement giving details of the Government’s “back to basics” policy.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 21 January 1994 Official Report, column 849

     

    Ministers (Unsuitability for Office)

    Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the circumstances which render Ministers unsuitable to retain office.

    The Prime Minister : There can be a variety of circumstances but the main criterion should be whether the Minister can continue to perform the duties of office effectively.

     

    Engagements

    Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 January.

    Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 January.

    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.

     

    Iraq

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister if, when he next meets President Clinton, he will discuss the report of the Harvard medical school team on child malnutrition and disease in Iraq.

    The Prime Minister : I expect to meet President Clinton during my visit to Washington at the end of February. The situation in Iraq may come up in our talks then. However, United Kingdom and United States officials are in regular touch over Iraq, including the humanitarian situation.

    I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 20 January Official Report, column 814 .

     

    Health Promotion, Wales

    Mr. Morgan : To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to place in the Library a copy of his efficiency unit’s efficiency scrutiny of the delivery of health promotion in Wales.

    The Prime Minister : Copies of the efficiency scrutiny of health promotion in Wales were placed in the Library of the House on 1 April 1993.

  • PMQT – 25 January 1994

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 25th January 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Beith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 January.

    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. Beith : Will the Prime Minister confirm that at the time of the general election, when he promised tax cuts, he knew that the Government were forecasting a public sector borrowing requirement of £28 billion and that tax increases would be a likely part of the Conservative strategy to deal with that? Surely he is not asking us to accept that the important fact escaped his notice and was not drawn to his attention.

    The Prime Minister : If I had expected to have to raise taxes after the election, I would not have expressed the contrary view. The right hon. Gentleman fails to take into account two prospects–first, the length of the recession and, secondly, demand-driven expenditure. It is an oddity for the right hon. Gentleman to say what he has said, because the right hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Ashdown) recently said :

    “We are going to have to find a new language which expresses taxation, not as a burden, but as an opportunity.”

     

    Q2. Mrs. Lait : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 January.

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

    Mrs. Lait : Will my right hon. Friend join me in welcoming yesterday’s CBI survey, which shows that orders and output are growing at the strongest rate since 1989? Is that fact not exemplified by Long Products, a company in my constituency, which now exports 85 per cent. of its output and has recently won orders from countries as diverse as Indonesia and Kuwait? Does not that company’s success and the CBI survey show that, thanks to the Government’s sound economic policy, the United Kingdom economy is the motor leading to European recovery? [Interruption.]

    The Prime Minister : I am pleased to hear such a welcome for our recovery on both sides of the House. As my hon. Friend says, there is a remarkably encouraging set of results across the board. Those results tend to support the figures previously released, which show manufacturing output up by about 2 per cent. on a year earlier. Critically, the survey also sets out the expectation of a growth in output and orders in the months immediately ahead. Car output and retail sales are already rising quite sharply, and the EC, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Monetary Fund all expect this country to have the fastest growth of any of the EC countries in 1993 and 1994.

    Mrs. Beckett : Will the Prime Minister now admit that all the promises that he made on taxation at the time of the last election were a total deception and that he should apologise to the British people?

    The Prime Minister : No. There was no deception in what I said at the time of the election. Events have forced us to raise taxes, and I regret that, but it has been necessary to raise taxes to ensure that we cut the borrowing requirement and provide the opportunity for sustained growth with low inflation over the medium term. I believe that we have to take the decisions that will safeguard the future of the British economy in the years immediately ahead. It was not an easy decision, not one which we would have wished to take, but it was the right decision and Governments cannot duck the right decision.

    Mrs. Beckett : But why should people take the Prime Minister’s word for any of those reasons, when the Conservatives claim to be the party of low crime and it is the party of high crime? They claim to be the party of low tax, when everybody now knows that it is the party of high tax. Why should the Prime Minister be believed when he makes excuses?

    The Prime Minister : I think that the right hon. Lady will have some difficulty in persuading the nation that, in any given circumstances, the Labour party, or indeed the Liberal Democrats, would have lower taxation than a Conservative Government. I invite the House to recall what has occurred in recent years to prove that point.

    We cut the basic rate of income tax from 33p to 25p, and the Labour party voted against it. We cut the top rate from 83p to 40p, and the Labour party voted against it. We lowered the starting rate to 20p, and the Labour party voted against it. We cut corporation tax, and the Labour party–[Hon. Members :– “Voted against it.”] It voted against it.

    Mrs. Beckett : The fact is that, after all those lines from the Prime Minister, people are still paying more tax. Everyone is paying more tax. What is the point of all that wriggling, when the figures that we have forced the Government to reveal tell the truth? The country now faces the biggest tax hike in British history and it is time for the Prime Minister to own up that, from April, the Government will squeeze every British family until the pips squeak.

    The Prime Minister : The right hon. Lady disinters a few old cliches, but if she thinks that she can resurrect the tax record of that old rogue who was Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time she has a tough job. The right hon. Lady misses an essential point which is vital to the British taxpayer. Despite the tax increases, which I acknowledged a few moments ago, net take-home pay at all levels of income has risen substantially and the spending pattern and the living standards of everyone in the nation indicate that fact. Of course, we might, I suppose, have been able to keep taxes lower if there had been further reductions in expenditure. I would just like to know which reductions in expenditure that we have imposed have had support from a single Opposition Member in recent years.

    Mr. Lamont : Will the Prime Minister treat the posturing of the Labour party on taxes with the absolute contempt that it deserves? Is not it the case that taxes had to be increased to reduce borrowing, and that was responsible, whereas the Labour party wanted much higher taxes to finance much higher spending, which would have left borrowing at the same level and would have simply meant higher interest rates, more unemployment and no recovery?

    The Prime Minister : My right hon. Friend– [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. Interruptions are very time consuming.

    The Prime Minister : My right hon. Friend is entirely right and I agree with every word he said.

     

    Q3. Ms Walley : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 January.

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

    Ms Walley : What has the Prime Minister to say to one of my constituents in Stoke-on-Trent, North a woman of 71? She wrote to me saying that she has a heart condition and that her husband has had a colostomy. They are unable to go out and unable to afford to heat their home. As the Prime Minister thinks that he has a question about VAT on fuel and as he is raising these taxes at the moment, will he tell us why there is so much incompetence and bungling in his Government that he has failed to raise £1.5 billion from uncollected taxes? Why is he making my constituents pay in fuel bills for uncollected taxes? [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. The hon. Lady must be heard; she must not be shouted down. Has the hon. Lady completed her question?

    Ms Walley : Yes, Madam Speaker.

    Madam Speaker : Did you hear the question, Prime Minister?

    The Prime Minister : I believe that I did hear the question, Madam Speaker. It was quite clear.

    On the hon. Lady’s first point on value added tax on fuel, as she knows, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor has introduced a very generous package to help people who are in particular need. I strongly suspect, although I cannot be sure of all the details of the hon. Lady’s constituent without further information, that she would be a beneficiary of that. I certainly hope that that will prove to be the case. As for the collection of taxation, it is our policy to make sure that taxes right across the board are fully collected. I wish, in terms of taxes and rents, that that was also the position of some local authorities on which the hon. Lady has served.

    Mr. Barry Porter : When will my right hon. Friend be able to report to the House on his recent conversations with the President of the Republic of Lebanon? Is it not appropriate to congratulate the President on the period of peace and stability after years of difficulty? Will he also emphasise to British industry and commerce that there are now enormous opportunities in the Lebanon?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend is entirely right about the record of President Hariri. I had the opportunity to have a conversation with him yesterday. I have no doubt from our conversation that there are significant business interests for this country in the Lebanon. In view of my hon. Friend’s remarks, I will arrange for a written answer to be tabled, setting out the details of our discussion.

     

    Q4. Mr. Byers : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 January.

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

    Mr. Byers : Does the Prime Minister recall the 1992 Conservative election manifesto, which stated, “We are pledged to cut tax rates”? How does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile that promise to the electors with the freezing of personal allowances, the increase in national insurance contributions and the extension of VAT to domestic fuel? Does he accept that it is now becoming increasingly clear that the Conservative election victory was founded on deceit, distortion and misrepresentation?

    The Prime Minister : The hon. Gentleman is quite mistaken about that. The fundamental responsibility of any Government is to maintain sound money and the right conditions for a growing economy. That sometimes means that one has to raise taxes when one would prefer not to. We have had to do that, as I indicated to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) some moments ago. I do not suppose that we wished to raise taxes in 1981, but it led to years of sustained growth and improvement for the British economy, and I strongly suspect that the Budgets of 1993 will do precisely the same.

    Mrs. Browning : Given the encouraging signs from industry this week about recovery, particularly in manufacturing, will my right hon. Friend confirm that he will not seek an EC agreement for an energy tax to be imposed on industry, as advocated this morning on Radio 4 by the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on behalf of the Liberal Democrats?

    The Prime Minister : I can see that there is some purpose in listening to Radio 4. I am interested in that information. I find it extraordinary that the Liberal Democrats should have advocated VAT on fuel, opposed VAT on fuel, claimed to be environmentalists and claimed not to be dealing with the environment, and now this morning we apparently have the latest example of utter double-dealing from them. On doorstep after doorstep we are used to it, and clearly it is becoming more and more apparent to people across the country.

     

    Q5. Mr. Wigley : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 January.

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

    Mr. Wigley : May I ask the Prime Minister to look again at the impact of the imposition of VAT on fuel on the disabled, the chronically sick and many pensioners? Is he aware that, for many of those people, the bill for fuel each week may be £20 or £30 and that the effect of VAT may be an increase of £3, £4 or even £5? Is he further aware that the £1 compensation announced by the Chancellor does not go anywhere near towards meeting that? In those circumstances, will he please introduce a compensation package specifically for those people by way of a heating allowance?

    The Prime Minister : The hon. Gentleman, who is a tireless campaigner on behalf of the disabled, and has been for many years, will know that heating allowances in their original form were introduced by the Conservative Government to help people who were in difficulties. I agree with him about the need to help the most vulnerable people over higher fuel bills. That is why 5 million disabled people will get extra help with VAT on fuel and that extra help will arrive before their fuel bills arrive. I believe that that is a substantial amount of help which will be of great assistance.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 24 January 1994

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 24th January 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Life-supporting Treatment

    Mrs. Ann Winterton : To ask the Prime Minister if the letter of 22 December from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on the withdrawal of life-supporting treatment following receipt of an advance directive from a patient represents the policy of Her Majesty’s Government; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health sought to explain the current legal position on advance directives.

    Her Majesty’s Government acknowledge the right of individuals to draw up advance directives. People have a right, emphasised in the patients charter, to consent, or withhold consent, to treatment. Advance directives assist patients in the exercise of their legal rights and so ensure their lawful treatment.

    The House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics is examining this area, and is due to report soon. The Government will consider the Committee’s findings very carefully.

     

    Downing Street Dinner

    Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister if the invitations extended to political journalists to attend dinner at 10 Downing Street on 13 January stated that the proceedings would be on lobby terms.

    The Prime Minister : It is not my practice to discuss the nature of invitations to private events.

     

    Engagements

    Mr. Pendry : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Wednesday 19 January; and if he will name the individuals he met.

    The Prime Minister : I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.

     

    Jetstream Aircraft Ltd.

    Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received personally on the future of Jetstream Aircraft Ltd.; what action he has taken; and if he will now agree to meet hon. Members with Ayrshire constituencies to discuss the aircraft.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 19 January 1994] : I have received representations from several hon. Members about Jetstream. The points raised are being pursued by the Departments responsible. Ministers at the DTI and I have discussed such matters with right hon. and hon. Members on a number of occasions. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry met a group of hon. Members to discuss Jetstream in November. I am generally willing to consider requests for meetings from hon. Members on departmental issues if and when they have exhausted contacts with the responsible Ministers.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 21 January 1994

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Mr. Gerry Adams

    Dame Angela Rumbold : To ask the Prime Minister if a response has yet been made to the letter he received from Mr. Gerry Adams dated 7 January; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : I received an unsigned letter on Mr. Adams’s headed notepaper, dated 7 January 1994, last week. I have placed in the Library a copy of that letter and of a reply from my private secretary which was sent on 20 January. Mr. Adams seeks to open issues for renegotiation by pointing back to a position which he asserts the Irish Government put forward in June last year. The joint declaration of 15 December was the result of many months of discussion between the United Kingdom and Irish Governments. It is a fair and balanced statement of constitutional principles and political realities, which safeguard the interests and aspirations of both sides of the community. As the Taoiseach and I have made clear, there can be no question of renegotiation of the joint declaration.

     

    Back to Basics

    Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister what are the implications of the Government”s “Back to Basics” policy for his office during 1994.

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the scope and effectiveness of his “Back to Basics” social policy.

    Mr. Rendel : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what working definition of “back to basics” he uses; and what he has done in the past three months to implement the policy.

    The Prime Minister : “Back to basics” is intended to ensure that Government policies are based firmly on the common sense values of the British people and, in particular, that they encourage individual responsibility. The “back to basics” policy is especially important in such areas as education, law and order, and the provision of public services, but it applies across a range of other Government policies as well.

     

    Paymaster-General

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the Departments to which the Paymaster-General has been attached since 1979.

    The Prime Minister : The Departments to which the Paymaster-General has been attached are listed.

    Date and Department to which responsible

    April 1976 to May 1979 – Department of Education and Science

    May 1979 to January 1981 – None

    January 1981 to September 1981 – None

    September 1981 to June 1983 – None

    June 1983 to September 1984 – Not applicable : post vacant

    September 1984 to September 1985 – None

    September 1985 to June 1987 – Department of Employment

    June 1987 to July 1989 – Her Majesty’s Treasury

    July 1989 to July 1990 – Her Majesty’s Treasury

    July 1990 to November 1990 – Her Majesty’s Treasury

    November 1990 to April 1992 – Northern Ireland Office

    April 1992 to date – Her Majesty’s Treasury

    Note : Except where noted, responsibility for Customs and Excise held by other Treasury Ministers.

    Included responsibility for Customs and Excise.

    Responsibility for Customs and Excise passed to the Economic Secretary in 1988.

    General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

    Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Prime Minister what are the procedures which apply in (a) the United Kingdom Parliament and (b) the European Parliament on the ratification of the Uruguay round of the GATT.

    The Prime Minister : The Government intend to present a White Paper to Parliament on the results of the Uruguay round later this year. The agreements will also be laid before Parliament, as with other international agreements. The European Community decision approving the results of the round will also be subject to United Kingdom parliamentary scrutiny in the usual way. The European Parliament is likely to be consulted, but the procedure used will depend on the treaty provisions which apply.

     

    Habitats

    Mr. Morley : To ask the Prime Minister whether he intends that all Secretaries of State should have a duty to comply with the requirements of the European Union directive 92/43 EEC on the conservation of natural habitats of wild fauna and flora; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : The Secretaries of State will have duties, both general and specific, as appropriate and commensurate with the requirements of the directive.

     

    International Year of the Family

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister what steps the Government are taking to encourage and promote the International Year of the Family.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Eccles (Miss Lestor) on 6 December 1993, Official Report, columns 29-30.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 20 January 1994

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Councils of Ministers

    Q5. Mr. Barnes : To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has made, in the light of the decisions of the European Councils in Edinburgh 1992 and Brussels 1993, to increase the transparency and accountability of decision making, including the recording of votes of each member state, at meetings of European Community Councils of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : We supported the Council decision of 6 December on the publication of Council votes; and we shall routinely provide to Parliament all consequent published information, which will be made available in the Library of the House. We have also encouraged the Danish and Belgian presidencies in holding a number of open Council sessions.

     

    Honours List

    Mr. Redmond : To ask the Prime Minister what is (a) the number of each honour granted in the new year’s honours list and (b) the number of each such honour was awarded to (i) public servants, (ii) civil servants, (iii) officers of the armed forces, (iv) other members of the armed forces and (v) for political services.

    The Prime Minister : My honours recommendations for the new year list contained 970 names. The breakdown of awards is as follows :

    |Number

    ——————————-

    Life Peer |2

    Privy Counsellor |2

    CH |3

    Knight |30

    GCB |1

    KCB |2

    CB |14

    GCMG |1

    CMG |2

    DBE |3

    CBE |98

    OBE |241

    MBE |571

    Around 180 awards were granted to public servants–people working, for example, in health, education, the police, the fire service, public transport and local government–and 170 awards to state servants, including civil servants. These awards were given for their work as public and civil servants. Some of the awards given for voluntary work may also have gone to public or state servants, but it is not possible to identify these. Forty-nine awards went to individuals either for their political or for their political and public service. Awards to members of the armed forces are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

     

    Value Added Tax (Domestic Fuel)

    Ms Jowell : To ask the Prime Minister how many representations he has received (a) in favour of and (b) against the imposition of value added tax on domestic fuel.

    The Prime Minister : I have received a substantial number of representations on this subject.

     

    Arms Sales Register

    Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Prime Minister if he will report what progress he has made in establishing the register of arms sales announced after the European Council meeting on 8 May 1991.

    The Prime Minister : I called for a United Nations register of conventional arms transfers at the Luxembourg European Council on 8 April 1991.

    The United Nations General Assembly voted on 9 December 1991 to establish such a register, covering seven major weapons systems, with first returns due on 30 April 1993. The United Kingdom submitted its return to the United Nations Secretary-General on 29 April 1993. The return covered arms imports and exports for the calendar year 1992, including background information; a copy was placed in the Library of the House.

    The report of the United Nations Secretary-General, published last October, included returns from some 80 countries.

    The United Kingdom will seek to build on this successful start to the initiative to improve its effectiveness; we will be represented on a United Nations panel of experts shortly to discuss the operation and expansion of the register.

     

    Mr. Frank Machon

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what record his Office has of telephone conversations held between his predecessor and Mr. Frank Machon of Glasgow in (a) October 1988, (b) February 1989 and (c) March 1989.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to him on 18 January 1994, Official Report, column 456.

     

    Engagements

    Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

    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 this House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

     

    Iraq

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what medical evidence he has received from the doctor accompanying the right hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Sir E. Heath) on his recent visit to Iraq, from Harvard medical school, and from the hon. Members for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galloway) and for Linlithgow; and if he will reconsider his policy on United Nations sanctions against Iraq.

    The Prime Minister : We have received various reports about the health conditions in Iraq and are aware that they continue to deteriorate. No medical evidence was passed to us by the doctor accompanying the right hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Sir E. Heath) on his recent visit to Iraq.

    Medical supplies have never been subject to sanctions. Our quarrel is not with the people of Iraq but with Saddam’s regime.

    The Security Council again concluded on 18 January that there were no grounds for lifting sanctions against Iraq.

     

    British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body

    Mrs. Ann Winterton : To ask the Prime Minister what public funds are currently made available (a) through the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and (b) through other channels to finance the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body ; what has been the level of such fundings in each of the years since it commenced; what is the purpose of those funds; what information he has relating to the expenditure by that body upon travel, hotel accommodation and refreshments in each of those years; by whom that expenditure was incurred; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 17 January 1994] : The British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body is funded jointly by the British Government, through a grant in aid from Her Majesty’s Treasury administered by the British group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and by the Irish Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs. The body was established in 1990 to provide a forum for British and Irish parliamentarians to discuss Anglo-Irish relations. Twenty-five Members of Parliament and 25 members of the Oireachtas belong. Two plenary conferences are held each year, one in the United Kingdom and one in Ireland. There is a steering committee and four separate committees tasked to study and prepare reports on a range of issues including political, economic, social, cultural, educational and environmental matters. Since 1990 British Government expenditure has been as follows :

    | £

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

    1989-90

    Total expenditure |46,757

    Accommodation |7,006

    Travel/transport |1,442

    Refreshments |8,489

    1990-91

    Total expenditure |64,998

    Accommodation |639

    Travel/transport |10,826

    Refreshments |2,539

    1991-92

    Total expenditure |98,310

    Accommodation |16,150

    Travel/transport |23,280

    Refreshments |11,214

    1992-93

    Total expenditure |78,352

    Accommodation |9,616

    Travel/transport |13,798

    Refreshments |4,814

    1993-94

    Final expenditure figures for the year are not yet available but are forecast to fall within the budget.

     

    Correspondence

    Mr. Tyler : To ask the Prime Minister when he will reply to the letter of 18 January 1993 from the hon. Member for North Cornwall on the subject of compensation for Gulf war widows; and if he will give reasons for the delay.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 18 January 1994] : As the hon. Member knows, he has received replies from my principal private secretary and from me. I am aware, however, that a decision is awaited on the matter at issue and I hope that conclusions can be reached shortly.

  • PMQT – 20 January 1994

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 20th January 1994.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Oppenheim : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

    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. Oppenheim : Will the Prime Minister join me in paying tribute to the courage of British troops who have fought so bravely for their country, particularly in Iraq? Does my right hon. Friend share the widespread sense of revulsion in the country at the behaviour of the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galloway) in going to Iraq and saluting the man responsible for perpetrating such unspeakable and appalling atrocities against his own people and also at the actions of other Opposition Members who, by their actions, have given succour to terrorists?

    The Prime Minister : I agree with my hon. Friend and I believe that the whole House will think that the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galloway) was foolish in his action. There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein has inflicted suffering on the Shias and the marsh Arabs, is oppressing the Kurds and denying basic human rights, has victimised British citizens and is failing to comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions. There is, frankly, nothing to be said for him and nothing should be said for him, by any Member of the House.

    Mr. John Smith : Does the Prime Minister agree with the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the huge tax increases to be imposed this year and next year will check economic recovery?

    The Prime Minister : If the right hon. and learned Gentleman had taken the trouble to listen to my right hon. and learned Friend, he would have heard him say that the recovery is now

    “strong enough not to be stopped”.

    I remind the right hon. and learned Gentleman of the facts. The economy has now grown more than 2 per cent. in 12 months and has grown for six successive quarters. Retail sales have grown 4 per cent. in the last year and car production, manufacturing output and export volumes are all up. With low inflation and low interest rates, there is no doubt whatsoever that recovery is under way.

    Mr. John Smith : I note that the Prime Minister does not deny that the Chancellor said that the tax increases would check economic recovery. Does not he understand that, as new tax codes arrive in homes all over Britain, people are now seeing the full impact of those increases on their personal standards of living? Why cannot the Prime Minister understand that increases equivalent to 7p on income tax are bound to hit family budgets for six?

    The Prime Minister : I reiterate to the right hon. and learned Gentleman that the economy is growing stronger daily. It is growing and it will continue to grow.

    Perhaps the right hon. and learned Gentleman could remind the House where tax rates stood when he left office. Investment income was taxed at 98 per cent., top-rate income tax was 83 per cent., corporation tax was 52 per cent. and the basic rate was 33 per cent. The right hon. and learned Gentleman is in no position to talk about taxing, either in the past or today. He complains about the spending reductions made in the public expenditure round. Would he keep those reductions? Would he tax to restore them?

    Mr. John Smith : Does the Prime Minister recall saying, during the general election campaign,

    “Greater taxation would kill recovery stone dead”?

    If that was true then, why is not it true now–or is this just one of the many things that the Prime Minister finds it easy to forget ever having mentioned?

    The Prime Minister : If the right hon. and learned Gentleman wants to discuss the question of forgetting things, let me point out that he may have forgotten the words of Lord Desai, whom he sacked for telling the truth. Lord Desai said :

    “It is good for the Labour party to have debate about alternatives, competing policy mixes, provided that no one thinks that adopting them or not will make the slightest difference to the actual reality.”

    The right hon. and learned Gentleman has no economic policy whatever and he cannot hide behind that for ever.

    Dame Jill Knight : Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is deplorable for a woman holding the post of headmistress to deny her pupils the chance of seeing one of the greatest English plays ever written by the greatest English playwright, on the ground that it depicts heterosexual love? Will my right hon. Friend join me in deploring that example of political correctness?

    The Prime Minister : I think that my hon. Friend has spoken for not only the majority of people in the House, but the majority of people in the country. As for the wider question of politically correct ideology, there is no doubt that it is widely unpopular among parents, who want schools to teach their children the basics of English language, English history and all the subjects that will equip them for a proper adulthood.

    Mr. Ashdown : On the subject of listening– [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. I want some order in the House before we make any further progress.

    Mr. Ashdown rose– [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. I shall have to start naming Members–[Hon. Members :– “Hear, hear!”]–on both sides of the House. This is an abuse of very precious time.

    Mr. Ashdown : On the subject of listening to the Chancellor, did the Prime Minister by any chance hear him say on radio this morning that he did not recognise the difference between spending and investment? Could that be the reason why Britain consistently languishes near the bottom of the class of the 22 advanced countries when it comes to investing in education and our future?

    The Prime Minister : The right hon. Gentleman clearly failed to understand what my right hon. and learned Friend had to say this morning. If he examined the text more carefully, he might be able to ask a more credible question on another occasion.

    Sir Fergus Montgomery : Does my right hon. Friend accept that, despite the professional whingers, the vast majority of people want to see more deregulation, unnecessary regulation ripped up and bossy bureaucracy banned and that they want unnecessary form-filling for the sake of form- filling to be a thing of the past?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend is right, not just for people but also, of course, for business and for many voluntary bodies as well. There is no doubt that the growth of regulation, from the European Community, from this House and from local government, has grown outrageously over the last 25 years and it is necessary to get rid of the regulations. If I had the support of the Opposition in doing that I should be delighted, for we will be introducing a Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill which will produce the biggest bonfire of unnecessary regulations that the House has ever seen. We will see then which Lobby Labour Members are in.

     

    Q2. Mr. Mike O’Brien : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

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

    Mr. O’Brien : As parliamentary adviser to the Police Federation, may I ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the criticisms of his Police and Magistrates Courts Bill from the police, chief constables and former Home Secretaries such as Lords Whitelaw and Carr, who say that the Bill comes dangerously close to politicising the police? Will he now seek all-party agreement on the Bill and stop introducing things such as the Sheehy report and the Bill which, in the face of rising crime, are undermining police morale?

    The Prime Minister : The hon. Gentleman will have to do better than that if he wishes to keep his new job. One of the aims of the reforms is to put a much greater breadth of experience on to police authorities and, as the hon. Gentleman may know, the intention is to bring the experience of many leading members of the community–head teachers, business men, doctors and others–on to police authorities. The police welcome that and they also welcome the increased individual authority given to chief constables, neither of which points was mentioned by the hon. Gentleman.

    Mr. Gale : Will my right hon. Friend join me in applauding today’s launch of the guaranteed pensioners income bond? Will he accept that the 30 per cent. of my constituents in Thanet, North who are over the retirement age will welcome the Government’s recognition of those who have worked hard all their lives, not to be a burden on the state but to be able to provide for their old age themselves?

    The Prime Minister : I agree with my hon. Friend. The new bond will be widely welcomed because it will give pensioners a guaranteed return on their savings month in, month out. The other essential element, especially for people on fixed incomes and those who are retired, is to ensure that the value of their savings is not eroded by inflation. By keeping inflation low, we are helping every pensioner on a fixed income. Not since 1946 has there been such a successful period for inflation as the last 12 months and we intend to keep inflation at a very low level.

     

    Q3. Mr. Betts : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

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

    Mr. Betts : Does the Prime Minister accept that, in pursuing its disgraceful housing sales policy which disadvantaged so many people in housing need, Westminster council must have annually reported that policy to the Government in its housing investment programme submission? Does he agree that the Government must specifically have approved all the subsidies for the cash incentive scheme under which Westminster emptied its houses and that the Government must also have given a specific consent to the disposal of all properties for which a general consent did not exist under the Housing Act 1985? Will the Prime Minister therefore give a clear and comprehensive statement to the House of what knowledge his Government had of those policies and what specific approvals his Ministers and his officials gave to that council to enable those policies to be put into practice?

    The Prime Minister : The hon. Gentleman clearly is in some dispute with his Front Bench about Labour policy. The hon. Gentleman refers to the disgraceful policy of selling council houses. For much of the past two years, Opposition Front Bench spokesmen have been trying to pretend that they are in favour of selling council houses. [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. The Prime Minister must be heard. [Interruption.] Order. I shall not proceed until there is some order in the House.

    The Prime Minister : As I was saying a moment ago, the hon. Gentleman had better be clear about whether his party is in favour of selling council houses or not, for there is a great difference between what he said and what spokesmen on the Front Bench have been saying. The reality is that hundreds of thousands of people in the country are home owners today because we gave them the freedom to be so, and that policy is undoubtedly correct.

  • Mr Major’s Letter to Gerry Adams – 20 January 1994

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s letter to Gerry Adams, dated the 20th January 1994. The letter was written on behalf of John Major and signed by Roderic Lyne. The letter was issued to the press on the same day.

    [Dear Mr Adams,]

    The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to the letter dated 7 January which, though unsigned, is on your headed notepaper.

    As you know, the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach made their Joint Declaration on 15 December. It is the responsibility of the two Governments and reflected intensive work between them in the preceding weeks.

    Your letter seeks to reopen issues for renegotiation by pointing back to a position you say the Irish Government put forward in June last year. Both the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach have made clear that there can be no question of renegotiation of their Joint Declaration. It provides a balanced framework for peace and democracy which recognises the interests and aspirations of both main traditions that exist in Ireland. That text, and only that text, is what is at issue.

    You announced that you were writing to the Prime Minister. In the circumstances, the Prime Minister has decided to make this letter and that received from your office publicly available.

    [Yours sincerely]
    [Roderick Lyne]

  • PMQT Written Answers – 18 January 1994

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Iraq and Iran

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what record has been kept of representations made to the Prime Minister by members of the public in regard to Iraq since 1985.

    The Prime Minister : Records of representations from members of the public in the form of correspondence on this and other topics that have been received by my office since November 1990, and to which I or my office have replied, have been retained. No records exist prior to April 1989.

     

    Scott Inquiry

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if any request has been made by (a) Lord Justice Scott or (b) members of the public to Her Majesty’s Government to permit cameras and tape recorders to be taken into and used in the Scott inquiry.

    The Prime Minister : The procedures of the Scott inquiry are a matter for Lord Justice Scott.

    Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received and from whom in the last six months that the terms of reference or the workings of the Scott inquiry into arms for Iraq should be modified or changed.

    The Prime Minister : In the last six months I have answered a written question from the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) concerning a change to the procedures of the inquiry, and a letter from the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Cunningham) seeking an extension to the inquiry’s terms of reference. I have received no other requests for changes.

     

    Christmas Cards

    Mr. Bayley : To ask the Prime Minister how many official Christmas cards were sent out in 1993 by (a) himself, (b) civil servants and (c) staff of Government agencies working in or to his office; and how much these cards cost (i) to buy, (ii) to post and (iii) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes.

    The Prime Minister : The information as requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

     

    Arms Sales

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what records are held at 10 Downing street of a telephone conversation made between his predecessor and Mr. Frank Machon in regard to arms sales in January 1989.

    The Prime Minister : As far as I am aware, there have not been any conversations and there are no records.

     

    Engagements

    Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 18 January.

    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.

     

    Channel Tunnel Rail Link

    Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a full list of all statements he has made, and/or press notices issued by his Department, which referred to a possible completion date for the channel tunnel rail link, the dates on which each such statement was made and the possible completion date which was mentioned.

    The Prime Minister : I have not made any such statements.

     

    Crossrail

    Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a full list of all statements he has made and/or press notices issued by his Department, which referred to a possible completion date for the crossrail project, the dates on which each such statement was made and the possible completion date which was mentioned.

    The Prime Minister : I have made no statements nor has my Department issued any press notices which referred to a possible completion date for the crossrail project.

     

    Broadcasting Acts

    Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister what information he has received from the Irish Republic concerning its decision not to renew section 31 of the Irish Broadcasting Act 1960; when he received copies of guidelines issued to the staff of Irish broadcasting organisations following the non-renewal of section 31; what action he proposes concerning section 10 of the Broadcasting Act 1990; what representations he has received concerning households in the United Kingdom receiving television and radio broadcasts originating in the Irish Republic and observing different broadcasting requirements; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : The Irish Government’s announcement of their decision was made immediately available to us, together with relevant background information. So far as the United Kingdom Broadcasting restrictions are concerned, I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 17 January, Official Report, column 369. I have not received any representations concerning the reception of broadcasts originating in the Irish Republic.