The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Category: Prime Minister (1990-1997)

  • PMQT Written Answers – 15 June 1992

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 15th June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    The World at One

    Mr. Biffen : To ask the Prime Minister whether the radio interview given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the BBC’s “The World at One” programme on 10 June represents Government policy.

    The Prime Minister : Yes.

     

    UNCED

    Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

    The Prime Minister : I have done so today.

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 5 June, Official Report, column 656, if he will set out the modes of transport used by the United Kingdom delegation to support its involvement in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development; and what is the total cost of each form of transport used.

    The Prime Minister : The United Kingdom delegation used both car and minibus transport in Rio at an estimated cost of £25,000.

     

    Commonwealth of Independent States

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what matters with regard to the nuclear proliferation risks posed by instability in the Commonwealth of Independent States were discussed ; and what decisions taken, during his recent meeting with President Bush at Camp David.

    The Prime Minister : We discussed a range of issues, many of which were related directly to developments in Europe, including the implications of the break-up of the former Soviet Union.

     

    CSCE

    Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the membership of the United Kingdom delegation to the forthcoming meeting of the assembly of the CSCE in Budapest.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 12 June 1992] : The CSCE parliamentary assembly will be meeting in Budapest on 3 to 5 July. I have appointed 13 delegates from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The delegation will consist of seven Members of the Conservative party, five Members of the Labour party and one Member of the Liberal party. I have also appointed a number of substitute delegates.

    The appointment of Labour and Liberal representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the parties concerned.

    Representatives from the Government Benches will be :

    The right hon. Member for Westermoreland and Lonsdale (Mr. Jopling), who will act as leader, the hon. Members for Arundel (Sir M. Marshall), for Honiton (Sir Peter Emery), for Warwick and Leamington (Sir D. Smith) and for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith), the Earl of Dundee and Lord Montgomery of Alamein.

    Representatives from the Labour party will be the hon. Members for Stockton, North (Mr. Cook), for Tooting (Mr. Cox), for Walsall, South (Mr. George), for Wansbeck (Mr. Thompson) and for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy).

    The representative from the Liberal party will be the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell).

    The following substitutes have been appointed to act as necessary on behalf of the delegates :

    From the Government Benches, the hon. Members for Ashford (Sir. K. Speed), for Rochford (Dr. Clark) and for Weston-super-Mare (Mr. Wiggin).

    From the Labour party, the hon. Members for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) and for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross).

  • PMQT Written Answers – 12 June 1992

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Ministerial Advisers

    Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 8 June, Official Report, column 10, to which Minister each adviser is attached.

    The Prime Minister : The information is as follows :

    Name |Minister Served

    —————————————————————————————

    1. Adams | Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
    2. Bickham | Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
    3. Burke | Secretary of State for the Environment
    4. Caine | Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
    5. W. D. Cameron | Financial Secretary

    Dr. E. Cottrell | Secretary of State for Employment

    Sir P. Cradock | Prime Minister

    Mr. Fraser | Minister of State for Overseas Development

    Sir C. Foster |Secretary of State for Transport

    1. M. Grantham | Secretary of State for Education

    J Gray | Jointly to Ministers of Local Government, Environment and Housing and Planning

    1. Green |Prime Minister
    2. S. Hole | Chief Whip

    Mrs. S. Hogg | Prime Minister

    1. Hopson | Secretary of State for National Heritage
    2. Kemp | President of the Board of Trade

    Mrs. T. Keswick | Home Secretary

    Mrs. E. Laing | Secretary of State for Transport

    1. Mackay | Secretary of State for Scotland
    2. Marsh | Secretary of State for Health
    3. Mayhew | Secretary of State for Social Security
    4. McManus | Secretary of State for Wales
    5. J. E. Miller | Secretary of State for Defence
    6. Poole | Prime Minister

    Mrs. K. Ramsay | Prime Minister

    Dr. W. Robinson | Chancellor of the Exchequer

    1. Rock | Secretary of State for the Environment
    2. Rosling | Prime Minister
    3. Ruffley | Jointly to three Ministers of State and the Under Secretary of State in the Home Office
    4. Stewart | Lord President

    Lady Strathnaver | President of the Board of Trade

    1. True | Prime Minister
    2. R. Wilton | Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
    3. Young | Secretary of State for Scotland

    Notes:

    Mr. J. Bercow was included in error in the answer for 8 June. He has not been appointed as a special adviser in this Parliament. Mr. Gray has since been appointed as a special adviser.

  • Mr Major’s Speech at Climate Change Conference (Small Extract) – 12 June 1992

    Below is an extract from Mr Major’s speech made during the Climate Change Conference, held in Brazil on 12th June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Mr Chairman, it has often been said that money is the root of all progress. All of us will have to meet the cost of commitments undertaken to tackle our common global problems. The developing countries will need the help of the developed world.

  • Mr Major’s Comments at Climate Change Conference – 12 June 1992

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s comments at a press conference during the Climate Change Conference, held in Brazil on 12th June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    The important thing is not to engage in squabbles on this occasion, I think it would be a very great shame if people went away from this conference concentrating on the areas on which there were not agreement. There is a huge amount of agreement here and I think it must be seen, in the interests of future action being taken, that it must be seen that this conference has made progress and is a success.

  • PMQT – 11 June 1992

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 11th June 1992. Tony Newton responded on behalf of John Major.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Darling : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 June.

    The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Tony Newton) rose.

    Mr. Skinner : Remember to give short answers.

    Mr. Newton : I am glad to see that the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) is in his usual friendly form.

    I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is in Rio de Janeiro to attend the Earth summit and will have bilateral meetings later today with various Heads of Government.

    Mr. Darling : Why did the Secretary of State for Social Security need to issue a statement yesterday expressing his confidence in and support for the Prime Minister’s policies?

    Mr. Newton : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security clearly thought–in my view, rightly–that his position had been misconstrued and that it was sensible to make that clear. I am glad to note that in some quarters journalists have begun to question the interpretation that had been placed on a meeting which had been interpreted as a conspiracy, but which appeared to have Government Whips present. [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. The House should come to order and let us get on with our business properly.

    Mr. Biffen : During my right hon. Friend’s hitherto busy day, has he borne constantly in mind the speech made just under four years ago in which Mr. Jacques Delors said that 80 per cent. of economic decisions and perhaps even 80 per cent. of fiscal and social decisions should be subject to initiation at Community level? Does my right hon. Friend agree that that is the unacceptable ambition of political centralism? Does he further agree that, in those circumstances, the reappointment of Mr. Delors would be provocative and counter-productive? May I say that my question was formulated without the assistance of the Whips?

    Mr. Newton : I think that I could have guessed that.

    The British Government’s position on subsidiarity is that we are concerned to enhance and underpin the concept. The Maastricht agreement did precisely that, and the British Government will continue to pursue that objective.

    Mr. Hattersley : Why did the Government promise that after 1 April no patient would have to wait more than two years for hospital admission?

    Mr. Newton : The Government made commitments in the patients charter and in relation to the development of health service policies that the aim was to ensure that no one should have to wait more than two years for treatment. Huge progress has been made in that, with a drop of nearly 50,000 in the numbers awaiting treatment in the year running up to April. It is obviously a disappointment that there was a small increase in April. That is now being addressed.

    Mr. Hattersley : I will give the Leader of the House credit for getting the statement wrong by mistake rather than by intention. The document that went through every door in the land guaranteed–the Government’s word–that after 1 April–the Government’s date–no one would wait longer than two years. Did the Government ever really mean that, or was it just pre-election propaganda?

    Mr. Newton : Not merely did the Government mean it, but a huge improvement, to which I referred, has been delivered. That progress will be reinforced by the action that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has taken.

    Mr. Hattersley : Whether or not the Government meant it, they clearly failed in that ambition. What does the right hon. Gentleman say to those citizens who believed that the Government were honest in the guarantee that after 1 April they would not have to wait for more than two years but who now find that they are having to wait for more than two years because the Government failed to keep a promise which was made purely for electoral purposes?

    Mr. Newton : A reduction in the number of patients waiting over two years from more than 50,000 to fewer than 2,000 in a year is hardly a failure of ambition.

     

    Q2. Mr. Evennett : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 June.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

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

    Mr. Evennett : Does my right hon. Friend agree that fighting the international drugs trade is vitally important? Will he join me in congratulating the Prime Minister on his announcement yesterday in Colombia?

    Mr. Newton : Yes, and I thank my hon. Friend for his comments. The illicit drugs trade is an international problem which demands an international response. What the Prime Minister has agreed with the Colombian Government in the last few days represents a significant and valuable advance.

    Rev. Martin Smyth : Will the right hon. Gentleman try to explain to the people of Northern Ireland why, despite the Government’s promise that hospital waiting lists would be reduced, they have been going up rather than going down and today we have had the announcement of further hospital beds being closed although people are waiting for treatment.

    Mr. Newton : I have made the Government’s position absolutely clear on that matter. Whether in Northern Ireland or in any other part of the United Kingdom, the Government are determined to deliver the improvement in service set out in the citizen’s charter and the patient’s charter. Further progress has still to be made, but the progress already made is striking.

     

    Q3. Mr. Richard Alexander : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 June.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

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

    Mr. Alexander : Is my right hon. Friend aware that some local education authorities are discriminating against pupils who attend grant- maintained schools? Does he agree that any authority that treats children in that way is not fit to be called an education authority?

    Mr. Newton : I agree with my hon. Friend and join him in deploring what has been reported in relation to some local authorities’ attitudes towards children at grant-maintained schools or, for that matter, at city technology colleges. For once, I wish to pay a compliment to the Opposition Front Bench. I was pleased to read the remarks of the Labour education spokesman, the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) yesterday, which suggested a responsible shift, for once, in the Opposition’s position.

    Mr. O’Brien : How do the Government intend to reduce the waiting time for operations in hospital, as people are now having to wait over two years?

    Mr. Newton : I do not know how many times I have to say this to get it understood– [Interruption.] For those waiting over two years, there has been a movement of 400, in relation to a total number of operations running into many hundreds of thousands, and against the background of a reduction from more than 50,000 to fewer than 2,000 over the year before. We intend to maintain that improvement.

     

    Q4. Mr. Raymond S. Robertson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 June.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

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

    Mr. Robertson : Does my right hon. Friend agree that the decision by NatWest to return £33 million to Maxwell pensioners is good news for those concerned, and also an example to others who hold Maxwell pension fund money?

    Mr. Newton : I agree with my hon. Friend on both counts. What has happened is a substantial vindication of the approach and effective package announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security earlier this week. I hope that that will be of especial comfort to my hon. Friend, as I know how much effort he has put in on behalf of Maxwell pensioners in his constituency.

     

    Q5. Dr. Reid : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 June.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

    Dr. Reid : Will the Leader of the House describe to my constituents in the Bellshill area some of the supposed advantages of the specialisation that would accompany the opting out of the local hospital? In particular, will he identify the services that could be regarded as non-essential or peripheral and may be curtailed or closed down according to the law of supply and demand? I should tell him that the local hospital is the Bellshill maternity hospital.

    Mr. Newton : I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will have noted the reference to a particular hospital. What I would say to the hon. Gentleman’s constituents is that if they are in any doubt they should come and visit the growing number of trust hospitals and talk to the staff and patients, who are experiencing the benefits.

    Mr. Gorst : As the British Government are a signatory to article 8 of the European convention on human rights, will my right hon. Friend tell us what the Government feel that they should do to protect the family life and privacy of the royal family who, after all, are entitled to the same consideration as other members of the community?

    Mr. Newton : I made some observations on that subject on Tuesday. I am sure that people both outside and inside the House will take note of my hon. Friend’s concern, which has been added to that expressed in other quarters earlier this week.

     

    Q6. Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 June.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Jones : The Lord President of the Council will no doubt recall that in a previous Parliament I introduced the Consumer Guarantees Bill, which endeavoured to give rights to people who had purchased shoddy goods. The Bill was killed by Conservative Members. It had no Government support, but offers were made for guarantees to be considered. Will the new Government and the Prime Minister consider guarantees and give people real rights instead of the confetti of charters?

    Mr. Newton : I had better acknowledge that I am not familiar with all the details of the hon. Gentleman’s proposed private Member’s Bill, but the Government already have a considerable record in protecting the rights of consumers of all kinds, and a continued determination to do so. Indeed, we have greatly improved the rights of consumers of public services.

    Mr. Cash : Further to the question asked by my right hon. Friend the Member for Shropshire, North (Mr. Biffen), about Mr. Delors, will my right hon. Friend confirm that, in line with the EC principle that everybody seems to like to move step by step, there could at least be a review of Mr. Delors’ position, if not an announcement that he will not be reappointed?

    Mr. Newton : My hon. Friend, who puts his question a little more gently than did my right hon. Friend the Member for Shropshire, North (Mr. Biffen), will be aware that those are matters for consideration at the Lisbon Council. It would not be sensible for me to go further than I already have in respect of my right hon. Friend.

     

    Q7. Mr. Watson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 June.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Watson : Following the decision of the Danish people to reject the Maastricht agreement, the Prime Minister and the Government have stressed their commitment to ratifying the treaty. Whether or not the people of the United Kingdom are also given a referendum–I, for one, am not afraid to trust them on constitutional matters–a fundamental cornerstone of the treaty remains subsidiarity, to which the Leader of the House referred in answer to a previous question. On the Prime Minister’s return from Rio, will the Leader of the House urge him to accept that the principle of subsidiarity must also be applied within the United Kingdom, starting with a referendum to allow the Scottish people to decide their constitutional future?

    Mr. Newton : The hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that the Government have no plans for a referendum, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made perfectly clear on a number of occasions. The principle of subsidiarity already applies to the Government’s approach to the United Kingdom, where much of the power is devolved down–at national level in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and at local authority level in England.

    Mrs. Currie : Does my right hon. Friend agree that many of us voted for the Maastricht deal as we felt that it was the best deal to be had, both for the United Kingdom and for Europe, and we have in no way backed off from that view? Does he agree that when we take over the presidency of the European Community in three weeks’ time our partners will look to this country for positive leadership, backed up with the full confidence of the House, including Opposition parties and including the Whips? That is what we should be aiming to achieve.

    Mr. Newton : In my judgment there is widespread support from hon. Members of all parties for the emphasis placed by the Government, and achieved in the Maastricht agreement, on the concept of subsidiarity and the development of the Community through intergovernmental co-operation. The Government will pursue and advance those key objectives during the United Kingdom presidency.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 10 June 1992

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 10th June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Data Protection

    Mr. Cohen : To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department’s arrangements for consulting the Data Protection Registrar during the planning stage of any initiative involving the collection, use or disclosure of personal data; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    When planning any project involving information technology, the standing instructions include a specific action to consider the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1984. In any case of doubt, the Data Protection Registrar is consulted. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is satisfied with the effectiveness of these arrangements.

     

    International Parliamentary Assemblies

    Sir Anthony Grant : To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy on the appointment of non-elected persons to the United Kingdom delegations to those international parliamentary assemblies for which he makes appointments.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    Any appointments my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister makes to United Kingdom delegations to international parliamentary assemblies are made in accordance with the rules of the assembly concerned.

     

    Energy Tax

    Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty’s Government intend to support the EC energy tax proposal.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    The Government will examine the European Commission’s recent draft directive on a carbon/energy tax carefully, taking account of the outcome of the Rio summit, and the actions taken by other major countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

     

    Brazil

    Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with the authorities in Brazil what bilateral action can be taken to provide for the (a) housing requirements, (b) education requirements and (c) medical requirements of street children in Brazil; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Newton [holding answer 8 June 1992] : I have been asked to reply.

    We provide assistance under the ODA joint funding scheme to programmes for street children and other groups carried out in Brazil by non-governmental organisations. We are open to requests for external professional advice under our bilateral technical co-operation programme to Brazil.

    Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with the authorities in Brazil what bilateral action can be taken to (a) tackle the plight of street children and (b) bring to justice their killers.

    Mr. Newton [holding answer 8 June 1992] : I have been asked to reply.

    My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister plans to raise the matter during his visit. While it is for the Brazilian authorities to take measures to resolve the problem, we are doing what we can to alleviate the plight of street children by assisting the non-governmental organisations which work with them.

    Mr. Alton : To ask the Prime Minister what representations he intends to make about the plight of assassinated street children in Brazil, during his visit to Rio de Janeiro; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Newton [holding answer 8 June 1992] : I have been asked to reply.

    The Government share the hon. Member’s concern. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister plans to raise the matter in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Mr Major’s Speech in Bogota – 10 June 1992

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s speech made in Bogota on Wednesday 10th June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, may I say firstly how good it is to be back in Colombia. I came here in 1984 for my first visit and several things struck me when I made that visit at that time – the courage, the warmth and the friendliness of the people of Colombia as well as the beauty of the country was the thing that struck most in my mind through those years. It made at that time a very deep and a very lasting impression upon me, I was determined than to come back but I am delighted to have had the opportunity of doing so in the last day or so.

    It is often said, sometimes by realists and sometimes by cynics, that people get the leaders they deserve. If that is so then I think the people of Colombia are both fortunate and to be congratulated. In ex-President Barco and in President Gaviria they have chosen leaders exemplary for their courage and for their capacity and willingness to tackle deep-seated and difficult problems.

    But I am glad also to be back here in Colombia today because in our own way we are making a little bit of history. Anglo-Colombian relations go back a long way. One of the very first contacts was in Cartagena, where I had the pleasure of a most enjoyable evening last night. Francis Drake, whom I must claim some ancestral responsibility for, at least on a nations basis, visited in 1586, I am not sure he was your most welcome visitor over the past 500 years, but there was at least one positive result from that visit – the construction of the magnificent ramparts of Cartagena. Admiral Vernon with 27,000 men and 3,000 artillery pieces had planned a visit a little later, in 1741, but Blas de Leso had other ideas and on that occasion he carried the day.

    Since then Anglo/Colombian naval relations have been perhaps on a slightly more even keel than they were during those two visits. And since the time of the naval mission before the Second World War we have built a pattern of fruitful cooperation which continues to this day and will continue in the future.

    But our links of course were in no sense limited to the sea. Britain has played a prominent and I think honourable part in Simon Bolivar’s campaign for the liberation of Colombia. And many of those who fought alongside him in those campaigns stayed on to link their fortunes and those of their descendants with the new nation.

    In Belgrave Square we have a statue of the liberator and on that statue are inscribed some of his own words, and perhaps I might quote them to you, they read as follows:

    “I am convinced that England alone is capable of protecting the world’s precious rights as she is great, glorious and wise.”

    It was very generous of him to write in that fashion. Later in a letter to General Sucre, Simon Bolivar wrote that he was, and I quote again from his letter: “beside myself with joy and happiness at the very thought that our interests and policies may be linked with Great Britain”.

    That is the end of the quote but the courage, the idealism and the dynamism of the man who wrote those words are an inspiration for all of us today who want to make a success of the partnership between Britain and Colombia. It is a partnership that I believe is secure, it is a partnership I have no doubt after my discussions with President Gaviria over the last two days that is set to remain and to grow in the years ahead.

    At the time of the liberation we bore arms together. Since then our cooperation has taken a more peaceful turn trade, investment, the development of cultural and educational links. And now our two governments are working together on another vitally important matter, working together to combat the evils of drug trafficking.

    And I would like to salute President Gaviria and his predecessor for the immensely brave stand that they have taken on that subject. I launched our bilateral cooperation at the United Nations when I was Foreign Secretary in 1989. Since then it has been a success, it is helping to save lives and during my visit I want to build on those foundations. There is real scope for increased cooperation in trade and investment, British Petroleum’s recent find at Cusiana, which the President and I and many others had the opportunity of visiting this morning, is one good example.

    But a crucial element, an element that is fundamental to the relationship, is our shared commitment to democracy. For us in the United Kingdom the most encouraging development in Colombia has been the growing vitality of democracy in your country. I mentioned ex-President Barco, now active in the cause of Angle-Colombian relations as Ambassador in London, I should also mention Luis Carlos Galan and the worldwide shock of his evil murder. President Gaviria showed enormous courage in stepping into the breach, I pray tribute, unreservedly, to his leadership then and subsequent.

    And yet that same courage is visible elsewhere. It is I believe visible in the efforts of many Colombians, many prominent, many less prominent, some almost unknown, who continue to make your democratic institutions work despite the dangers that exist.

    That courage and the President’s leadership has been rewarded by the strides that Colombia has made, the calling of a constituent assembly, the new constitution, progress in bringing many of the guerrillas to the negotiating table and then into the political mainstream, the prosecution of the war against the drug barons and the progressive liberalisation of the economy. Those are remarkable achievements upon which all Colombians deserve to be congratulated.

    Our cooperation in many of those areas, based on a shared cultural heritage, is reason enough for a British Prime Minister to come here. But there is another reason. We have not forgotten and will not forget the principled stand that Colombia took in 1982 condemning the unjustifiable use of force. So, Mr President, I take pride in being the first British Prime Minister to visit Colombia, indeed I believe the first British Prime Minister in office to visit South America.

    The Joint Declaration that we have signed sets the seal on our friendship. It expresses our determination to develop that friendship in all its aspects. Britain is at present the third largest foreign investor in Colombia. British Petroleum has a 40 percent interest in Cusiana. There are subsidiaries of 22 British companies working here.

    The President and I have agreed in the last 2 days that we will negotiate an investment promotion and protection agreement to encourage even more investment in the years ahead. Our anti-narcotics programme, bilaterally and through the European Community, is worth nearly 20 million sterling. Kenneth Clarke, our Home Secretary, looks forward to visiting Colombia later this year to assess that programme and to see what more we can do to help. I want to build more of that Ministerial cooperation in the coming years and I am sure the luncheon may care to know that I have invited the President to visit Britain as our guest next year.

    Mr President, the winds of change have been blowing through our own European continent, they have blown away in the whole of the Eastern half of that continent the tyrannies of the last 50 years and brought in democracies and free markets. Because our eyes have been so firmly fixed on that peaceful revolution we have perhaps overlooked the peaceful revolution in Latin America for the winds of change have been blowing through your continent as well.

    In this country you have a long tradition of democracy. Elsewhere in the hemisphere democracy and constitutional rule have been returned and have been reinforced. Free markets, essential, essential to individual liberty and choice and economic growth, free markets have been opened up.

    In the 19th century Britain and Latin America were significant trading partners. How ironic it is that as the jet age began after the Second World War so our paths diverged. Now there is nothing to stop them coming together again, and indeed there is every reason today for them to come together again. The well of historical, cultural and commercial ties has in no sense run dry. Latin America is a source of inspiration in many fields: literary, cultural, economic.

    Yours is a region of infinite natural resource and environmental potential. It is a region moving towards full democracy, an open trading system, steady economic growth, sound administration and respect for human rights. These are firm foundations for our rediscovered relationship.

    Colombia herself, if I may say so, symbolises this transformation. You face problem on a huge scale from drugs trafficking and terrorists. You have tackled them heroically. You have secured growth in the economy every year for the past 30 years, you have not had to reschedule your debts. You have preserved and strengthened democratic institutions.

    Those are, by any reckoning, substantial achievements and how much greater will Colombia’s achievements be once the violence against which you have fought so long has been conquered.

    I have no doubt in saying that I believe the future is bright here in Colombia. My government has recognised the significance of the transformation the Colombians themselves have brought about. We look forward to being South America’s partner, to being Colombia’s partner, in a common future that lies ahead of us. We look forward to building that relationship in the years ahead.

    In our bilateral relationships there is much to be done. But President Gaviria, I believe you and I can claim that we have made a good start in the last two days and in the months and years ahead I look forward to your government and my government continuing that start and building upon it. Thank you for your hospitality today.

  • Mr Major’s Bogota Press Conference – 10 June 1992

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s press conference, held in Bogota on Wednesday 10th June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Let me say at the outset I am very pleased to be back in Colombia, it is not my first visit, it is however the first visit by a British Prime Minister both to Colombia and to South America and I am most grateful to President Gaviria, his wife and colleagues, for the warmth of their welcome and for their hospitality during this visit.

    I had three purposes in coming here. First, to reaffirm our support for Colombian democracy, her market economy and her brave and successful fight against drug trafficking. Second, to develop our bilateral relationship, especially in the trade field. We are, the United Kingdom, the third largest investor in Colombia, 22 subsidiaries of British companies work here, the oil find at Cusiana, which we visited this morning, is the largest BP find for 25 years. And thirdly, to revitalise our relationship with Latin America as a whole.

    The text of our joint declaration brings out the extent of our cooperation. Bilaterally and through the European Community Britain has contributed nearly 20 million sterling to the fight against drug trafficking, help which I first announced as Foreign Secretary at the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. We plan now to enhance that cooperation, the Home Secretary, Kenneth Clarke, will visit Colombia later this year.

    We have agreed to set up a bilateral trade promotions group to encourage trade and investment. We intend to negotiate, very shortly, an agreement on the promotion and protection of investment, and we are looking at the scope for a double taxation agreement.

    These developments will add substance to our relationship. I have also invited President Gaviria to visit Britain as the guest of the British government next year and I am delighted that he has accepted that invitation. The return of democracy and free markets to South America gives us the chance to strengthen our links. We are, as I said a moment ago, one of the biggest investors in Latin America already, my visit here has shown the potential for building on a sound existing basis for cooperation and for revitalising an old friendship. That is our intention and I believe we have made a good start in the last two days.

    QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

    QUESTION (Adam Boulton, Sky):

    In the battle against drugs how concerned are you that in fact drugs are a pretty important source of income for countries in Latin America and therefore you cannot move too quickly to stop the trade?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I do not think we can afford to delay in stopping the trade. There is a great development in the economies of Latin America and one has seen some of that in the last couple of days in Colombia, but one sees that development mirrored in other parts of Latin America as well. I do not believe there can be any justifiable delay in cracking down on drugs, drugs are the source of a great deal of violence and discontent in Latin America and the end product of the drug trade is the cause of a great deal of misery and death in other parts of the world as well. So there is no cause, no justification and no intention for delaying in cracking down on that problem.

    QUESTION:

    My question is in two parts, in which other areas might British companies be investing in Colombia; and the second part is the concession made by the European Community to the GSP to the Andean Pact countries to help them with their support for the work they are doing on fighting drugs, will that be extended in the future and to which areas?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Upon the latter point first, I cannot commit the whole of the European Community but I think they would look very sensitively at the prospects for extension. There is great concern in the European Community, particularly about drugs but a great interest as well in developing its relationship with Latin America generally.

    On the question of the investment by BP, there are a number of other investments, large investments, by British subsidiaries in Colombia and I have no doubt that that will continue, not just in the oil industry but across, I hope, a wide range of industry as well.

    QUESTION (Paul Reynolds, BBC):

    How can you persuade people in Colombia who might be minded to support some of the opposition groups that companies like BP are not simply here to exploit the resources of Colombia?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    They certainly are not here just for that purpose and I think the best way of persuading anyone who might doubt that is to have a look at what has happened to the prosperity of other countries that have had large investments such as the BP investment in Cusiana, there is no doubt the successful development of Cusiana, the successful exploitation of the oil reserves that it seems might well be there, will have a dramatic, beneficial, revitalising effect on the Colombian economy and I think that is the point that needs to be made and I have no doubt that President Gaviria and his colleagues will make that point very forcibly.

    QUESTION (Adriana Ajalla):

    What was the principal reason why you chose to visit the BP site at Cusiana and how can you be sure that that kind of investment is not going to destroy the natural environment and the resources of Colombia?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    On the first point, I particularly wanted to see the investment, it is state of the art investment, it is one of the biggest investments that I think anyone will have made in Colombia externally at any stage, it has some of the most dramatic and modern engineering skills that anyone has ever seen. And I think therefore that it was something I particularly wished to see.

    As for the environment, it was very noticeable this morning in the questions that the President and I asked the engineers who were there, the immense trouble that they are taking with the water and mud that they bring out of the earth with the drilling, that it goes through several processes to make sure that it is absolutely environmentally repaired before it trickles back down to local streams. A great deal of expenditure and care is going into environmental protection at Cusiana, has done, is doing, and I was assured this morning by the BP executives would continue to do in the future.

    QUESTION (Kirsty, Sky News):

    You are leaving Colombia now to go on to Rio, you have been balancing your pro-environmentalist stance against your relationship with the States, do you think you will be able to sustain that in Rio and what do you hope to get out of that?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I have made it perfectly clear what our stance is on the environment. I think that the Rio conference is immensely important but it is not the end of environmental changes, it is a further step in a continuing process of environmental protection, and for that reason we have examined the conventions very carefully and we will be able to sign all the conventions. We had some difficulties with the biodiversity convention, I think we have now negotiated our way into a position to sign that. So I very much hope that people will see the Rio convention as a success and from the benchmark that is set at Rio we will, be able to move further forward in due course.

    QUESTION (Adrian Croft):

    While you were at Cusiana today there were some rumours in the London markets that you might have gone missing in Colombia. I would like you to comment on that; and given Colombia’s reputation for violence do you think that it is a deterrent to foreign investment in the country because of guerrilla and other violence?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    As you can see, I have not gone missing in Colombia. Were I to go missing I cannot think of many nicer pieces to go missing in but I can promise you that I am in rude health and I certainly have not gone missing.

    I think the way in which the Colombian government, President Barco and now President Gaviria, have tackled the problems of the guerrillas and the problems of violence has been remarkable, remarkable for their persistence, remarkable for their courage and remarkable for the growing success that they have had and I warmly congratulate them on what they have achieved.

    QUESTION (Alistair Campbell):

    Your visit has been overshadowed at home rather by what the Daily Telegraph calls a Cabinet crisis over Europe and I wonder what you are going to do to regain and maintain unity and whether you have considered conducting a reshuffle from South America?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    There is no Cabinet crisis and there is no difference of view whatever amongst any members of the Cabinet on the question of our European policy. I set out the government’s policy in the House of Commons last week, it has not changed, that policy is fully supported, has been in private and is in public by every member of the Cabinet and statements to that effect I understand have been issued this morning. I cannot tell over the medium term what the fate of the Maastricht treaty will be after the Danish referendum, until the Danes ratify the treaty clearly it cannot enter into force. But I can say this about the treaty, the treaty embodies much that we have long sought in Europe, it was worth attaining and I believe the treaty is worth keeping and it would be folly to throw away the gains that we have in that treaty rather than building on those gains for the future.

    So I think in the difficulties following the Danish referendum result we do need cool heads and careful coordination, but Cabinet has decided our policy and each and every single member of Cabinet fully supports that policy.

    QUESTION (Lida Fonseca):

    Bearing in mind that Great Britain takes over the Presidency of the Community in the second half of this year, how will that affect and play through into the Community’s and Britain’s relations with Latin America; and what is the state of the races so far as the Argentine claim on the Falkland Islands is concerned?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    On the latter point, there is no change in the relationship. The Falklands in international law and in our view are British and remain so. But beyond that we are of course keen to improve our relationship with Argentina and are doing so and we will continue to do so in the future.
    On the first part of your question over the European Community, the position is as follows. There is a general wish in the community, both amongst the nations bilaterally and the Community collectively to improve its relationship with Latin America and we will continue that policy throughout the next six months. And in that respect I think my visit to Colombia and Rio, and the visit to Rio of many other European Heads of Government will greatly help in moving the policy.

  • Mr Major’s Doorstep Interview in Cartagena – 9 June 1992

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s doorstep interview in Cartagena on Tuesday 9th June 1992.

    QUESTION:

    Prime Minister, the first ever visit by someone in your job while in office to this country, you have had some talks, how are things going?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I think the talks are going extremely well, it is 8 years since I was last in Colombia and the change in the country has been very profound, the way in which they run their economy, the sheer grip the government is now beginning to get on a whole series of very difficult problems, not least of course drugs.

    QUESTION:

    You seem to be suggesting there is something in this for Britain, not just Colombia?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Oh I do not think it is a one-way option, the whole of Latin America has changed dramatically in the last decade, it is becoming an increasingly important part of the world in terms of trade. We had an excellent relationship in the 18th and 19th century, it fell away a little over the last 50 years or so. I believe the prospects of Latin America in the future are very good, I think British companies ought to recognise those prospects and we ought to recognise the remarkable changes there have been in this part of the world.

    QUESTION:

    I suppose most people who think of Colombia they think of drugs and the Medillin cartel and other cartels, do you think there is any sign that that war against illegal drugs is being won?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    It is certainly not going to be won in the short term but I think there are several things to be said about it. Firstly a number of the drug barons are now in custody, awaiting trial, and we must wait and see how the trials turn out. Secondly, the Colombian government are tackling this problem with very great courage, very great physical courage as well as political courage, and in the last few years we have been one of that principal allies, we have committed a lot of resources, a lot of advice, a lot of know-how in order to assist them in dealing with their drugs problems. We will continue to do that, that is not just an altruistic degree of help, if the drugs are produced anywhere in the world, Colombia or elsewhere, their end use might be in Europe or in the United Kingdom. If we can cut off the drugs at source we can save lives at home.

    QUESTION:

    Ministerial involvement in that area is not going to stop with your visit here?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    No it is not, I very much hope the Home Secretary will be back to examine the whole programme to see how it is progressing some time in the autumn, we have not finalised dates yet but I am sure he will now be coming.

    QUESTION:

    This is a democratic country but it is a country on edge, there is a guerrilla war of some kind going on as well as problems with the drugs barons, tomorrow some people say you are exposing yourself to great risks where the guerrillas have been extremely active, how do you feel about that?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I am looking forward to the visit, there is a lot to be seen there and I will be in extremely good company because I suspect you are coming with me.

    QUESTION:

    I am now but you do not think you will be in danger?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I have no idea but I need to go and see this, there are British companies there, they are working there, they are exploring there, they have new oil discoveries, they are going to develop it and I want to see that development, I think it is somewhere I should go and I am looking forward to the visit.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 9 June 1992

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 9th June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Newham

    Q6. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the London borough of Newham.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will be making further visits to many parts of the country and hopes to include different parts of London among them.

     

    Engagements

    Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 9 June.

    Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 9 June.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is visiting Colombia to have discussions with President Gavria on a wide range of issues. He will carry out other official duties including an inspection of an anti-narcotics police training school.

     

    Earth Summit

    Mr. Burns : To ask the Prime Minister what is his assessment of the likely outcome of the Earth summit in Rio.

    The Prime Minister : I am committed to the success of the Earth summit and will attend the meeting with other world leaders. We shall sign the framework convention on climate change and have joined with other members of the European Community in urging all countries to sign and ratify it as soon as possible thereafter. This convention will be a significant first step in tackling the global problems of climate change.

    We shall also sign the convention on biodiversity, which should provide an initial step in protecting natural habitats and the range of species throughout the world. This will be subject to satisfactory arrangements that take full account of our concern about financial commitments.

    We have already announced that we will provide new and additional financial resources through the global environment facility to assist developing countries in meeting the incremental costs of their commitments under the convention.

    We hope that an effective statement of principles on the sustainable development of the world’s forests will be agreed and a process to follow the principles up.

    Agenda 21 provides a coherent framework for action by all to achieve more sustainable types of development and growth. We attach great importance to its agreement at the meeting. We hope that it will contain a declaration of basic principles and that stronger machinery will be established to carry forward work at a national and international level.