The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Tag: 1992

  • Mr Major’s Comments on Subsidiarity – 26 June 1992

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s comments on subsidiarity, made in Lisbon, Portugal, on 26th June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I think we begin to put flesh on subsidiarity, we make it live, we explain to people what it means. We look at the examples and we decide to examine that further over the next six months. I think that’s how we’ll do it. That’s a wish not just in the United Kingdom but also in a number of other European countries as well I believe.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if agreement would be made at this summit].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I think we will certainly seek to get some agreements on the principle of subsidiarity over the weekend, yes. But then it’ll have to be carried forward, there’s a great deal of work to be done to make this a living viable way for the community to behave.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 25 June 1992

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 25th June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Kashmir

    Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had recently with the Prime Minister of Pakistan concerning Kashmir; what agreement was reached on representations to be made on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government about Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : I discussed Kashmir with Mr. Nawaz Sharif on 17 June. I repeated our hope that Pakistan and India will agree to a means of solving this dispute through negotiation. I made clear our concern about interference in Kashmir by militants from Pakistan, and also briefed Mr. Nawaz Sharif on our representations to the Indian Government about the need to respect human rights and the need for a political process in Kashmir.

     

    Intellectual Property Rights

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the United States Administration on intellectual property rights regarding forestry products and medicines.

    The Prime Minister : All these issues were discussed in the negotiations leading up to the biodiversity convention, in which representatives of the United States Administration were involved.

     

    Engagements

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

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

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

     

    Council of Europe

    Mr. David Howell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the composition of the United Kingdom delegation for the 44th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

    The Prime Minister : The 44th session parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe was opened in Strasbourg on 4 May. The next meeting of this session will be held in Budapest on 30 June, and the delegation from the United Kingdom, for this meeting and the remainder of the session, will consist of 19 Members of the Conservative party, 15 Members of the Labour party and two Members from the minority parties.

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

    The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom Parliament at the assembly of the Western European Union, which next meets in Paris on 30 November 1992.

    Representatives from the Government Benches will be : Sir Geoffrey Finsberg becomes Lord Finsberg on 27 June. He will be a member of the delegation, and its leader, in his capacity as a member of the upper House.

    The hon. Members for :

    Warwick and Leamington (Sir Dudley Smith)

    Calder Valley (Sir Donald Thompson)

    Twickenham (Mr. Toby Jessel)

    Poole (Mr. John Ward)

    Ashford (Sir Keith Speed)

    Medway (Dame Peggy Fenner)

    Lewes (Mr. Tim Rathbone)

    Bournemouth, East (Mr. David Atkinson)

    and the Earl of Dundee

    Representatives from the Labour party will be :

    The hon. Members for :

    Wentworth (Mr. Peter Hardy)

    Tooting (Mr. Tom Cox)

    Wansbeck (Mr. Jack Thompson)

    Newham, North West (Mr. Tony Banks)

    Don Valley (Mr. Martin Redmond)

    Manchester, Central (Mr. Robert Litherland)

    and Lord Kirkhill

    The representative from the minority parties will be :

    The hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Sir Russell Johnston)

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

    From the Government Benches :

    Reading, West (Sir Tony Durant)

    Norfolk, North (Mr. Ralph Howell)

    Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Andrew Bowden)

    Ravensbourne (Sir John Hunt)

    Wellingborough (Mr. Peter Fry)

    Bridlington (Mr. John Townend)

    Newark (Mr. Richard Alexander)

    Lord Newall and Baroness Hooper

    From the Labour Benches :

    Pollok (Mr. James Dunnachie)

    Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Norman Godman)

    Newport, East (Mr. Roy Hughes)

    Easington (Mr. John Cummings)

    Leigh (Mr. Lawrence Cunliffe)

    Leicester, South (Mr. James Marshall)

    Hodge Hill (Mr. Terry Davis)

    and Baroness Lockwood

    From the minority parties :

    Lord Mackie of Benshie

  • PMQT – 25 June 1992

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 25th June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Betts : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 25 June.

    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. Betts : Is the Prime Minister aware of reports that dentists in Huntingdon are to refuse to treat any new patients, including children, under the national health service because of Government cuts in funding? How will the Prime Minister explain to his constituents that, despite repeated excuses, the Government are failing to give the NHS the level of resources necessary to enable it to provide a first-class level of treatment for all?

    The Prime Minister : There is no question of anyone needing to go without a national health service dentist in Huntingdon. Dentists in Cambridgeshire have more patients than the national average because of population growth. A recruitment campaign for dentists has been planned for some time and will go ahead in September. If necessary, the local family health services authority will seek agreement from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health to employ salaried dentists. Four dentists are already interested in such appointments. If people have any trouble finding dentists, they should go to their family health services authority, which should be able to help.

    Mr. Dykes : May I wish my right hon. Friend well in the United Kingdom presidency of the European Community? Will he ensure that Ministers work hard in the coming months to explain the immense benefits of the Maastricht treaty to the interests of this country– [Interruption.] which will become clearer over time? If that work is successful, it will help to diminish some of the grotesque xenophobia and hysteria of recent weeks.

    The Prime Minister : I am grateful to my hon. Friend. As he knows, the Maastricht agreement was made within the negotiating terms agree by the House, was subsequently endorsed by the House and was agreed at a general election. The Second Reading of the Bill has been approved, it remains Government policy and in due course we shall carry it through.

    Mr. Hattersley : Will the Prime Minister confirm that the Government now support the extension of Mr. Delors’ term of office as president of the European Commission ?

    The Prime Minister : It is a matter that will be discussed at the weekend. There is, as I understand it, likely to be only one candidate. If that is Mr. Delors, we shall support him.

    Mr. Hattersley : Since I take it that that answer is as far as the Prime Minister’s reserves of courage are liable to go towards the answer yes, will he give Mr. Delors the Opposition’s congratulations– [Interruption] and tell Mr. Delors that we confidently expect him to continue to implement policies which are necessary for this country, are supported by the Labour party and are anathema to Tory Back Benchers?

    The Prime Minister : I am not entirely sure that the right hon. Gentleman carried all his Friend’s with him.

    Sir Fergus Montgomery : Has my right hon. Friend seen the recent survey that showed that 91 per cent. of British exporters reported either good or very good orders for the first three months of this year ? Does he agree that the efforts made by British exporters will lead the way to recovery?

    The Prime Minister : I agree with my hon. Friend. Last month’s export figures were extremely good. They were up 6 per cent. by value and 4 per cent. by volume. I think that that shows the extent to which our competitiveness has increasingly enabled us to penetrate export markets which were previously not open to us.

     

    Q2. Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 25 June.

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

    Mr. Michie : When will the Prime Minister stop going on about his wonderful citizen’s charter which, so far as I can see, has had only one effect until now, which is that British Rail passengers can keep their tickets ? At a much more serious level, pregnant women cannot keep their jobs. What good is a charter which does not allow women to be pregnant without being punished for it ?

    The Prime Minister : If the hon. Gentleman cared to read the whole range of citizen’s charters that we have produced, he would realise that it is a far wider-ranging initiative than he has begun to understand. It puts the consumer and not the producer first, and it will remain right at the heart of Government policy throughout the rest of this decade.

     

    Q3. Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 25 June.

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

    Mrs. Gorman : May I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the remarks that he made on Tuesday, when he said that there would be another debate in the House on the Maastricht Bill before Third Reading? May I recommend the attitude of one of his predecessors, my right hon. Friend the Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Sir E. Heath), who allowed a free vote of the House in similar circumstances when he was piloting the European Communities legislation through the House? Does my right hon. Friend not agree that that would be an excellent way to test the water before we come to voting on the Maastricht Bill?

    The Prime Minister : I was not a Member of the House at that moment, and I am not entirely sure that I recall that free vote. The House has now debated and voted on the Maastricht agreement on three occasions. As I indicated a moment ago to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes), we contested the general election on that proposition–a general election at which all my hon. Friends were returned on a manifesto to which they all subscribed. The Maastricht treaty was negotiated in good faith by all member states. I have no intention of breaking the word of the British Government that was given on that occasion ; nor do I have any intention of compromising what we agreed on that occasion and wrecking this country’s reputation for plain and honest dealing and good faith. In due course, therefore, I shall be inviting my right hon. and hon. Friends to support the Government and the Bill.

    Dr. Wright : The Government have devoted many millions of pounds and many millions of copies to telling people about the glories of the parent’s charter and the patient’s charter. Will the Prime Minister tell the House how many millions of pounds and how many millions of copies have been devoted to telling the British people about the Maastricht treaty?

    The Prime Minister : From memory, I think that the House spent 30 hours debating it before we even went to Maastricht. I do not think that there is any doubt about the realities of what the treaty stands for in the minds of the British people. They knew that at the election, and they supported it at the election.

     

    Q4. Mr. Milligan : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 25 June.

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

    Mr. Milligan : Will my right hon. Friend congratulate the Secretary of State for Employment on her triumph in Luxembourg yesterday? It is good news for pay packets, good news for jobs and good news for investment. Will my right hon. Friend also confirm that it shows that the best way to fight for British interests is to negotiate strongly, but with a reputation as a country which keeps the agreements that we make and ratifies the treaties that we sign?

    The Prime Minister : I am grateful to my hon. Friend and I wholeheartedly agree with him. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment achieved an outcome at yesterday’s Economic and Social Council which meets every one of the United Kingdom’s most crucial objectives. She has preserved the flexibility which employers and employees in the United Kingdom enjoy and which is one of our greatest assets. I must tell the House, however, that the directive is still not–and may not be– agreed in the European Community. In any event, it is still our case, irrespective of the negotiating triumph by my right hon. Friend yesterday, that the treaty base under which it has been brought forward is wrong and that if it is passed we may still challenge it in the European Court.

     

    Homelessness

    Q5. Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet representatives of London’s homeless.

    The Prime Minister : I have no plans to do so at present, but my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment regularly meets representatives of the voluntary organisations in London who work with homeless people.

    Mr. Corbyn : Does the Prime Minister realise that the 25 million sq ft of empty offices in London and still more under construction are an insult to the 2,000 people who sleep on the streets of the capital city every night and to the 18,000 people living in hostels? When will the Government direct the construction industry to build houses for rent for those who need them, rather than speculative office blocks to lie idle for the benefit of property speculators? This is a crucial matter and the right hon. Gentleman stands condemned by those who are forced to sleep on the streets at night.

    The Prime Minister : The hon. Gentleman, standing in a glass house, should be careful where he throws his bricks. Of the top 10 authorities with empty properties, six are Labour controlled and none is Conservative controlled. If the hon. Gentleman were really concerned, he would be putting pressure on Manchester, Salford, Birmingham, Hackney, Knowsley and Newcastle upon Tyne. He might then get homeless people back into accommodation.

    Several Hon. Members rose —

    Madam Speaker : Order. I remind the House that this is a closed question.

    Mr. John Marshall : Will my right hon. Friend confirm that homelessness in London is the result of decades of rent control, which Conservative rule got rid of, and of incompetence by high-spending Labour councils?

    The Prime Minister : I agree with my hon. Friend. There is scope for the private rented sector to grow and to provide low-cost flexible accommodation. The hostility of the Labour party over the years has cramped that growth and prevented that property becoming available for people who needed it. We have consistently sought to expand the privately rented sector, most recently with our proposed tax exemptions to help people who want to rent a room to do so. I hope that Opposition Members will support that policy.

     

    Engagements

    Q6. Mr. Beggs : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 25 June.

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

    Mr. Beggs : May I invite the Prime Minister to make time in his busy schedule to visit my constituency to see for himself why Larne is the second busiest ferry port in the United Kingdom and to hear from the people there why he should use his influence to persuade the European Commission that Larne, Belfast, Stranraer and Dumfries be recognised as Euro-routes to and from Northern Ireland?

    The Prime Minister : I should be happy to take up that invitation from the hon. Gentleman. Northern Ireland is well served by its ports and I am confident that they will continue to provide the routes for most of the Province’s business and tourist traffic to Great Britain and onwards to Europe. They have performed magnificently in the past and I believe that they will continue to do so, and to grow, in the future.

    Mr. Mans : Does my right hon. Friend agree that what matters most to people is the amount that the Government take in tax from their wage packets? Bearing that in mind, may I ask him to confirm that he has no plans to follow the tax policies advocated by the right hon. and learned Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith) which, even in the view of many Labour Members, contributed greatly to the Opposition’s defeat?

    The Prime Minister : I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. Our policies of low taxation and low inflation were clearly what the electorate wanted at the last general election. I am aware of the dispute about why the Opposition lost the election, and I am sorry to note that for the right hon. and learned Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith) the honeymoon is over before the marriage has begun.

     

    Q7. Mr. Welsh : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 25 June.

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

    Mr. Welsh : Is the Prime Minister aware of the National Children’s Home report issued this week, which shows that each day in Scotland 41,000 families on income support cannot afford to buy food, that 500 families are now housed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation, and that the city of Glasgow has the highest infant mortality rate in Europe? If the Prime Minister really believes in the family, does he share my disgust at that situation and my desire for urgent action?

    The Prime Minister : The definition used by the National Children’s Home for “poverty” was misleading, as the hon. Gentleman will know. He will also know that this year’s uprating of income support was substantially higher than the retail prices index. The definition used by the National Children’s Home defines someone as poor if he or she spends less than half the national average spending per head. The hon. Gentleman will realise that that measure of poverty excludes a Greek spending the average in Greece, while a richer person in the United Kingdom spending less than half the national average is classed as poor. That definition does not stand up to examination.

    Mr. Rupert Allason : Will my right hon. Friend encourage the Foreign Secretary and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to declassify as much material as possible dating from before the second world war before it is all released in Moscow and Washington?

    The Prime Minister : I am sure that my right hon. Friends will have heard my hon. Friend’s advice.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 24 June 1992

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 24th June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    EC Presidency

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the cost of (i) each of the special presidency events and (ii) each of the other special events that will be incurred by the United Kingdom as set out in the booklet “The United Kingdom Presidency of the European Community”.

    The Prime Minister : Of the 79 special events listed in the United Kingdom presidency programme booklet, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is providing funding support for 11 at a total cost of £315, 426. These are :

    |£

    —————————————————————-

    Presidency Art Exhibition, Brussels |100,500

    Britain and Europe Summer School, LSE |5,000

    European Night at the Proms, Albert Hall |22,776

    UK Presidency Conference, QEII Centre |113,650

    EC R&D meeting of Chief Scientists and European Parliamentary Committee, Edinburgh |5,000

    Women of Europe Awards, FCO |2,000

    EC Organ Festival, Bolton |15,000

    Association of European Journalists Conference |7,000

    Advent for Europe Concert, Durham |5,000

    New Years Eve Festival and Concert, Barbican |35,000

    Beacon Europe, throughout Europe |5,000

    Other Government Departments and the EC Commission are helping to organise or finance a further 32 events. EC ministerial meetings in the UK, including the European Council, are being funded from the FCO presidency budget of £9.8 million.

    Mr. Hain : To ask the Prime Minister how many events in the calendar of special events for the United Kingdom presidency of the European Community are taking place in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 June 1992] : The presidency programme booklet includes two events in Wales, the informal meeting of EC Employment and Social Affairs Ministers in Chepstow and the presidency concert at the Llangollen international eisteddfod. Further events in Wales are planned but not yet confirmed.

    In addition, the European arts festival includes 58 events in Wales and Beacon Europe will take place throughout the United Kingdom.

     

    Death Penalty

    Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation to abolish the death penalty for those offences for which it remains in force in England and Wales.

    The Prime Minister : The abolition of the death penalty is a matter which only Parliament can decide, each Member of Parliament voting according to his or her conscience. The Government have to abide by the decision of the House of Commons, which voted against the abolition of the death penalty during the last debate on capital punishment in December 1990.

     

    Child Health

    Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken, or will be taking, to promote as a priority the plan of action for survival, protection and development of children, agreed by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting in Harare in 1991, for improving child health in Commonwealth countries in the present decade; what information he has received from other Commonwealth countries in regard to implementing the plan of action; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : I presume that the right hon. Member is referring to the plan of action adopted by the World Summit for Children in 1990.

    In response to the summit’s call for national plans of action, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in conjunction with other Departments, has compiled a report, which was presented to the UNICEF secretariat at the end of February, outlining our policies for children in this country and the work of the United Kingdom’s aid programme of particular relevance to women and children in the third world. The report examines problem areas which persist in developed, industrialised societies and explains what measures the Government are taking to alleviate them in this country; and it reviews those areas of the United Kingdom’s aid programme such as primary health care, water and sanitation, and education which are of greatest direct impact on women and children in the developing countries. We plan to publish the report as a Command Paper before the end of the month.

    We understand that Commonwealth states are at various stages of preparation in work on their national reports.

     

    Nuclear Testing

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with the United States Administration during his recent visit to Washington about the resumption of nuclear testing by the United Kingdom.

    The Prime Minister : I had discussions on a range of matters with President Bush and other members of the US Administration. The Government’s position on nuclear testing remains as I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 12 May at column 90.

     

    Libya

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his discussions with the French Government about United Nations sanctions against Libya.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 June 1992] : We have co -operated closely with France on this issue. Sanctions will remain in force until Libya has complied in full with UN Security Council resoluton 731, including handing over the Lockerbie suspects for trial in Scotland or the United States and meeting French demands over the UTA bombing.

     

    Treaty of Rome

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the privileges of British troops serving in other EC countries when the proposed article 8 of the treaty of Rome comes into force.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 June 1992] : The privileges enjoyed by British troops serving in other EC countries are a matter for the Government and the Government of the member state concerned. Bilateral and multilateral arrangements apply. This provision will not be affected by the entry into force of the proposed new article 8 of the treaty of Rome.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the diplomatic and other privileges of the European Commission and its employees when the proposed revised article 8 of the treaty of Rome enters into force.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 June 1992] : The privileges and immunities of members of the Commission staff are governed by the protocol on the privileges and immunities of the European Communities 1965, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. These privileges and immunities are not altered by the proposed new article 8 of the treaty of Rome.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will equalise the tax treatment of United Kingdom and other EC nationals when the proposed article 8b of the treaty of Rome on the right to vote in municipal elections takes effect.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 June 1992] : The provisions concerning the right to vote in municipal elections have no implications for the basis of tax liability in this country, which will continue to be primarily determined by the residence status and domicile of each individual.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the diplomatic and other privileges of national representatives working in other member states when the proposed article 8 of the treaty of Rome enters into force.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 June 1992] : Such privileges are a matter for agreement between the Governments of the member states concerned and relevant multilateral agreements. None of the existing arrangements will be affected by the entry into force of the proposed new article 8 of the treaty of Rome.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government’s reasons for agreeing to dual citizenship of nationals of the United Kingdom under the proposed article 8 of the treaty of Rome.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 June 1992] : The proposed new article 8 of the treaty of Rome would confer upon EC nationals limited additional rights, as citizens of the union, defined in the articles which follows. The Government consider that all these rights would confer worthwhile benefit upon United Kingdom citizens. The addition of further rights would require unanimity and national ratification.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister how he proposes to define the purposes of the proposed articles 8a and 8b of the treaty of Rome; and what legislative or other proposals he has to enable electoral registration officers to know whether a national of another member state is a resident for the purpose of these articles.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 June 1992] : The proposed article 8a of the treaty of Rome to be added by the treaty on European union in itself establishes no new rights. Unanimity is required in the Council for any measures to facilitate the exercise of these existing rights or to expand them. No such proposals have been suggested. Proposed article 8b of the treaty of Rome makes it clear that the rights to vote and stand in municipal elections described therein should be exercised under the same conditions as enjoyed by nationals of the member state in question. In the United Kingdom registration on the electoral roll is sufficient proof of resident status for the purpose of voting and standing in elections.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to revise the oath of allegiance to give effect to the proposed article 8 of the treaty of Rome.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 June 1992] : None. The concept of citizenship of the union confers an additional status on British citizens, and does not replace British citizenship or affect allegiance to the Crown.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister to which Department he proposes to transfer responsibility for relationships with the European Community if the proposed article 8 of the treaty of Rome enters into force.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 June 1992] : The Government have no such plans.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister what consideration he gave to proposing that the new article 3b of the treaty of Rome should be given retrospective effect.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 June 1992] : The proposed article 3b of the treaty of Rome will have effect only when the treaty on European union enters into force. All Community institutions, including the European Court of Justice, will then be under a binding obligation to respect the principle of subsidiarity which it contains. There is, however, nothing to prevent the institutions operating in this way voluntarily, in advance of article 3b coming into effect. As presidency of the Community, the United Kingdom will encourage them to do so. There is evidence that the Commission is already doing this.

     

    European Monetary System

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister what is the legal basis for the European monetary system; and whether its status will be changed if the Maastricht treaty takes effect.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 June 1992] : The European monetary system is established by a resolution of the European Council. Its legal status will not be changed if the treaty on European union agreed at Maastricht takes effect.

     

    EC Citizenship

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the level of public support for the creation of Community citizenship by the Maastricht treaty.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 23 June 1992] : The Maastricht treaty as a whole is a good agreement for Britain, and has been commended by Parliament. The establishment of the concept of citizenship of the union will be helpful in ensuring that the position of individual citizens within the Community is respected and enhanced, in the areas in question–limited voting rights and consular protection.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 23 June 1992

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 23rd June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Recycling

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the new plans for recycling at 10 Downing street he announced during his recent visit to Rio de Janeiro.

    The Prime Minister : I gave a pledge, as part of the Tree of Life initiative that bottles at No. 10 would be recycled. A collection point for bottles has been established, from where they will be taken to a bottle bank as necessary.

     

    Engagements

    Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

    Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

    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.

  • PMQT – 23 June 1992

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 23rd June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Hall : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

    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. Hall : The Prime Minister is aware that local authorities nationally have had £15 billion of assets frozen in the bank because of his Government’s policy. In the light of the national housing crisis we now face, will the Prime Minister give the House a straightforward answer to my question? Why do we not allow local authorities to build houses for rent, which are much needed, with the money that they already have in the bank?

    The Prime Minister : As the hon. Gentleman knows, local authorities are perfectly able to use a portion of their accumulated receipts and that has been the position for many years. It is the right position for us to keep and we have no intention of changing it.

     

    Q2. Mr. Amess : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

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

    Mr. Amess : I believe that what is good news for Basildon is good news for the rest of the country. Does the Prime Minister share my constituents’ delight in Basildon at yesterday’s historic European air fares agreement? Is not it the case that yesterday’s agreement is a particular triumph for Britain and for Basildon, as we pressed for the liberalisation of air markets?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend is right. I have no doubt that the triumph of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport is the very talk of Basildon at the moment. The Community reached an historic agreement yesterday on the final phase of aviation liberalisation. I believe that that is excellent news for the travelling public and it should mean more choice, better services and lower fares. It has been a long time coming, but it is a very welcome agreement.

    Mr. Kinnock : Will the Prime Minister now serve the public interest by ensuring that the report by the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation into the Maxwell companies’ pension fraud is published without delay?

    The Prime Minister : I well understand the concerns generated by the whole Maxwell case. I understand that the Securities and Investments Board intends to publish a report on IMRO’s findings and conclusions. However, the House will understand that it will be essential to ensure that publication does not jeopardise either civil or criminal proceedings in the Maxwell affair, including those currently under way against Kevin and Ian Maxwell.

    Mr. Kinnock : I am grateful for that answer. However, I must express the hope that there will not be a delay, even given the requirement to take account of the implications for possible proceedings. Does the Prime Minister accept that the report, as so far recorded in the newspapers, says that the organisation fell short of the high standards which it should have expected of itself and that, therefore, publication is a pressing necessity so that everyone can know just how the organisation fell short, what is the Government’s full responsibility in the matter and how that bears on the future of the Maxwell pensioners who have been robbed?

    The Prime Minister : I understand the important point that the right hon. Gentleman has made, but, as I said a moment ago, the report will be published in due course. The SIB intends to publish a report of the findings and conclusions, but neither the right hon. Gentleman nor I would wish to prejudice in any way either the civil or criminal proceedings–nor, I believe, would any hon. Member.

    Mr. Kinnock : May I in the meantime put it to the Prime Minister that we now know that in 1987 the Bank of England blocked an attempt by Robert Maxwell to take over a bank, that in the following year, 1988, the Department of Trade and Industry granted an investment licence to a main Maxwell company and that later that year IMRO renewed that licence? Is it not clear that in those circumstances both the Government and the system that they established have a clear and serious charge of negligence to answer and that they must answer it? The main responsibility is not with the SIB to publish the report ; it must remain with the Government and they must account for their actions and omissions in the whole disgraceful episode.

    The Prime Minister : I think that the right hon. Gentleman still has not addressed his mind to the necessity of ensuring that nothing is done to prejudice civil or criminal proceedings. That is a matter which the right hon. Gentleman well understands. Unlike the right hon. Gentleman, I am equally anxious to ensure that the report is considered alongside the SIB’s assessment.

    Mrs. Chaplin : Has my right hon. Friend seen the report that shows that many 14-year-olds like taking tests, in direct contradiction of the many so-called education experts? Is that not another example of how Conservative policy is good for pupils, parents and those who are employed in education?

    The Prime Minister : I warmly welcome the news contained in yesterday’s report about testing. It confirms that we were absolutely right to press ahead with testing in the teeth of opposition from the teaching unions and, indeed, from Opposition Members. I hope that, in the light of what has been said in the last couple of days, the Labour party will stop fighting testing, will support it and will change its policy, as it seems to have done on grant-maintained schools.

     

    Q3. Mr. Ernie Ross : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

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

    Mr. Ross : Will the Prime Minister acknowledge that it was a profound error of judgment for the British Government to press the European Community to lift its package of economic and oil sanctions against South Africa earlier this year? At the European Council meeting in Lisbon this Friday, will he press the EC to reconsider that decision, urge it to support the establishment of an interim Government in South Africa and seek international monitoring of the violence there?

    The Prime Minister : No, I do not believe that that would be the right way to proceed. I share the hon. Gentleman’s anxiety about the recent violence in South Africa. I also note the commitment of the South African Government to bring to justice the people responsible for that violence. The prime responsibility for law and order rests, as it must do, with the South African Government. But they have made enormous strides towards representative democracy. I understand the strength of feeling that exists at the moment, but it is of great importance that the talks do not break down and that they continue, for great progress has been made. The people who will stand to gain most from the successful conclusion of the talks are the people in South Africa who have least and about whom we should be most concerned.

    Mr. John Carlisle : In the tragic and violent disorder that is now regrettably taking place in South Africa, is my right hon. Friend not absolutely right to send a message of support to President de Klerk, who has come so far in his brave and courageous attempt to find a democratic solution which is satisfactory to all parties? In those circumstances, should not the message go to Mr. Mandela and the African National Congress that empty gestures such as suggestions of Olympic boycotts and sanctions will only hinder their chances and restrict the people of South Africa in the wonderful opportunities that they now have in front of them?

    The Prime Minister : Over recent months I have had many opportunities to discuss the present situation in South Africa with both President de Klerk and Mr. Mandela. I remain closely in touch with both of them. What is necessary at the moment is that both of them stand back from the present difficulties and then determine how it will be possible to continue the talks and reach a satisfactory conclusion.

    Mr. Ashdown : Does the Prime Minister recall saying on 26 January that the Government’s mortgage rescue scheme had “stopped repossessions”? Is he aware that since then, for every family mortgage rescued, 2,000 homes have been repossessed and that repossessions are now running at 140 families a day? Does he recognise that what he did then, although welcome, was too little and too late and that he now needs to do something more?

    The Prime Minister : No. I have made it clear to the right hon. Gentleman that the proposals set out by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor were there to diminish the number of repossessions–where people are in receipt of income support, the repossession does not proceed. Repossessions are falling and that has been acknowledged, not merely by the Government but by many others. The right hon. Gentleman should examine the facts.

    Mr. Jenkin : Following my right hon. Friend’s meeting with Members of the European Parliament last week and in the spirit of subsidiarity and our right to govern our democratic processes, is the Prime Minister able to assure the House that the European elections in 1994 will be conducted under the present voting system?

    The Prime Minister : That is certainly my intention.

     

    Q4. Mr. Betts : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

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

    Mr. Betts : Would the Prime Minister like to commiserate with the millions of English football fans who have had to endure their team’s performance during the past few weeks? Would he like to reflect on Graham Taylor’s commitment to deal with his European problems by playing it long? Indeed, Graham Taylor might only be happy once he has picked the whole Wimbledon team to play for England. Does the Prime Minister agree that his European problems look just as difficult and troublesome? Does he further agree that, like the tactics of the England team manager, his commitment to play his European problems long, and to avoid an early debate on them in the House, is just as likely to prove to be unsuccessful?

    The Prime Minister : I am not sure that the hon. Gentleman carries me with him on either proposition. I offer the same support and encouragement to the England football team that I was happy to offer to the Scottish team after its excellent performance in the recent championships. On the European policy of the Government, I have made it clear that we shall have a further debate before the Committee stage of the Maastricht Bill. That remains the case, but the time is not yet right to bring the Bill back.

    Mr. Churchill : I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the British Government’s part in negotiating the first-ever global ban on chemical weapons. Does he agree that one of the gravest threats to peace in the years ahead will come from the acquisition of a non-conventional weapons capability by third-world military dictatorships, many supplied by European countries? Is it not time that steps were taken to put on notice British defence contractors and others in European countries that they cannot expect Government contracts if they forge documentation, as evidence shows has been happening, to avoid the Government’s embargoes on the export of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons?

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend is right in his strictures on chemical weapons. If he has any detailed information on the second aspect of his question, I should be happy to receive it.

     

    Q5. Mr. Enright : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

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

    Mr. Enright : Does the Prime Minister recall that in February the Government announced a settlement of RECHAR and promised action with all expedition? It is now July– [Hon. Members :– “June.”] It is now almost July and no ground rules have been agreed. I have sent two questions to the President of the Board of Trade and have written him one letter, but he still has not replied. Will the right hon. Gentleman sack him and get something done?

    The Prime Minister : It is almost July and I am sure that my right hon. Friend is almost ready to reply.

    Mr. Dunn : Is my right hon. Friend aware that Conservative Members welcomed the abolition of the National Economic Development Council, or Neddy, last week for it meant an end to trade union domination and the running of the country through the union block vote?

    The Prime Minister : I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his support. I think that, in its day, Neddy did have a role to play, but that day has passed. I think that the right decision was taken by my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the President of the Board of Trade.

     

    Q6. Mr. Meale : To ask the Prime Minister if he will lists his official engagements for Tuesday 23 June 1992.

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

    Mr. Meale : Now that the Prime Minister has returned from Rio, where I hope that he learnt a lot about the environment, will he support moves in this Parliament to ban the hunting of animals, with dogs, for the pleasure of people? [Interruption.]

    The Prime Minister : I am sorry, but if the hon. Gentleman repeats his question, I will try to answer it.

    Madam Speaker : Order. If the hon. Member repeats his question, we will all be able to hear it.

    Mr. Meale : Now that the Prime Minister has returned from Rio, where, undoubtedly, he learnt much about the environment, will he support legislation in the House to ban the hunting of animals, with dogs, for the pleasure of people?

    The Prime Minister : No, Madam. That is a matter of personal choice.

  • Press Release – Prime Minister’s Comments on the Maastricht Treaty – 19 June 1992

    Below is the text of the Conservative Party Press Release on Mr Major’s comments on the Maastricht Treaty. It was issued on Friday 19th June 1992, reference 877/92.

    MAASTRICHT

    “The Irish people have today voted in favour of the Maastricht Treaty. They are now in a position to ratify that Treaty. The other eleven Member States need to do so before it can come into force and there are still uncertainties. The French have yet to hold their referendum.

    The Danes have yet to decide how to handle the problems created by their referendum result. These issues obviously affect the timing of the legislation we have to put through Parliament in order to ratify the Maastricht Treaty.” the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon John Major MP (Huntingdon) told a meeting of Huntingdon industrialists.

    “The plain fact is, however, that the questions before us are larger than the Maastricht Treaty. They relate to the very future of Europe itself.

    At Maastricht we made advances that enabled the Community to develop as we wish. I do not want to put that at risk.

    I want this country to be at the heart of Europe. Only if we are there can we have real influence. We need that influence to build the Europe we want.

    We need to exercise authority in Europe. We will not carry our agenda if we sideline ourselves as a European onlooker.

    We have our own agenda for Europe – to press ahead with enlargement, to curb centralism, to strengthen subsidiarity, to have proper control over the Commission, to extend deregulation, to pursue CAP reform, to create a genuinely open market for goods and services. That is our vision of the future and not the federalist closed shop that many fear.

    It is not in our long-term interest to change our position because the Danes have not yet been able to ratify the Maastricht Treaty. We must wait and see how Denmark tackle what is their problem. We do not want to penalise them. We want to help them. And if we can, we will.

    We and other Member States negotiated in good faith. A lot of concessions were made to us and in return we pledged our word, with the full authority of Cabinet and Parliament. If we were now to set aside our word we would not be trusted again. We would lose our influence to determine events. Our partners in Europe would see Britain as political gazumpers who change their minds and their price after making an agreement. That is not the way for any British Government to behave.

    It is not the way this British government will behave.”

  • Mr Major’s Comments at Citizen’s Charter Meeting – 19 June 1992

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s comments at the start of a meeting on the Citizen’s Charter, held in London on 19th June 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I believe we’ve made very considerable progress over the last year. But having said that I think we must recognise in this meeting it is just the beginning, there’s a huge amount still to be done. A huge amount to change the services and a huge amount to change the culture which lies behind the delivery of the services.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 19 June 1992

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    India

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister when he next expects to visit India; and what matters he plans to discuss.

    The Prime Minister : I look forward to visiting India when dates can be agreed. The issues for discussion would be decided nearer the time.

     

    Expo ’92 Fair

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what has been the cost of the British pavilion at the Expo ’92 Fair in Seville; which Minister was present at the opening ceremony; and what consideration in regard to the local ecology were taken into account in the preparation and construction of the United Kingdom pavilion.

    The Prime Minister : The British pavilion at Expo ’92 cost £14 million to construct. Its design is environmentally sensitive, using sails and water as shields from the sun, thus reducing its energy consumption substantially. Sir John Ure, United Kingdom Commissioner General, represented Britain at the Expo ’92 opening ceremony.

     

    Earth Summit

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out for each Government Department represented at the Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro, the number, grade and role of the 24 officials and eight junior support staff in the United Kingdom delegation; if he will list the title of each document submitted to the Rio de Janeiro conference; and what responses were made to each document.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment and Countryside gave on 9 June 1992, column 147.

    The Government submitted the following documents to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development secretariat : “This Common Inheritance” : 1990 Environment White Paper. “This Common Inheritance” : first-year report.

    United Nations Environment Programme United Kingdom’s non-governmental organisation Agenda 21 report.

    Local government statement on United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

    International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources’ “Caring for the Earth” report ; and

    Inter-Agency Committee on Global and Environmental Change report on United Kingdom research.

    No formal response has been received to any of the documents as they were submitted for information only.

     

    Peace Dividend

    Mr. Cohen : To ask the Prime Minister what level of peace dividend he expects the United Kingdom to achieve over the next five years on current Government policies.

    The Prime Minister : The Government’s expenditure plans for the next three years were set out by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Autumn Statement (Cm 1729). These show the underlying cost of the defence programme being reduced significantly in real terms. No decisions have yet been taken on expenditure in later years. The Government remain committed to the maintenance of a strong and effective defence for the United Kingdom and its interests.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 18 June 1992

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Official Visits

    Q8. Mr. Enright : To ask the Prime Minister when he will next pay an official visit to Kinsley.

    The Prime Minister : I shall be making further visits to many parts of the country and hope to include Kinsley among them.

     

    Ministerial Responsibilities

    Sir John Hannam : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about ministerial responsibilities for HMSO, the Central Office of Information, Chessington Computer Centre and CCTA–the Government Centre for Information Systems.

    The Prime Minister : The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Minister of Public Service and Science) will assume responsibility for these bodies from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

    The transfer of responsibility for the Central Office of Information and Her Majesty’s Stationery Office will take place on Monday 22 June. The transfer of CCTA will take place once the necessary Transfer of Functions Order permits. Responsibility for Chessington Computer Centre will be transferred as soon as the administrative arrangements have been completed.

    These four bodies are largely self-contained units engaged in providing services, mostly on a repayment basis, and mainly to other civil service departments and agencies. They will take their place alongside the Civil Service college, the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency and the Occupational Health Service, which are also self-contained units largely serving civil service departments and agencies and which are already the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Duchy. Bringing these seven units under one Minister is designed to improve their effectiveness and help to provide even better value for those who use those services.

     

    Millennium Fund

    Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister what benefits are planned to flow to London from the millennium fund.

    The Prime Minister : It is far too early to say. But the millennium fund, which will commemorate the start of the 21st century, will be one of the areas funded by the national lottery.

     

    Private Sector Forum for London

    Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister;

    (1) what functions will be carried out by the Private Sector Forum for London ; and whether its proceedings will be subject to public scrutiny;

    (2) when he intends to announce the membership of the proposed Private Sector Forum for London ; and if he is inviting nominations from representative bodies in the capital.

    The Prime Minister : The forum will promote London internationally as a business, tourist and cultural centre. We are still considering the detailed arrangements for the forum. We will announce our conclusions in due course.

     

    Rail Travel

    Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has made an official visit by train since becoming Prime Minister.

    The Prime Minister : I do so when ever the opportunity arises but for practical and security reasons I am unable to travel often by train.

     

    Royal British Legion (Training Centre)

    Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Prime Minister what is the most appropriate Department to sponsor the Royal British Legion’s bid to PERIFRA II for the establishment of a training centre in Tidworth for providing specific training for members of the armed forces and their families, so as to prepare them for continuing careers in civilian life; what action he will take in consultation with the Royal British Legion; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 17 June 1992] : The aims of the British Legion proposal are to provide employment opportunities and training for the wives and dependants of service personnel, for ex-service personnel, and for the local community in Tidworth. The Ministry of Defence has the matter under consideration.