The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Tag: Iraq

  • PMQT Written Answers – 10 February 1992

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

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Clearance Procedures

    Dr. David Clark : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 3 December 1991, Official Report, column 94, whether those employed in executive agencies are also required to seek clearance before taking up posts with outside organisations and companies; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : Yes, where appropriate.

     

    Iraq (United Nations Inspections)

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister when Her Majesty’s Government received the appeal from the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency for supplementary funds to continue the United Nations special commission on inspection in Iraq; and what response was made to the appeal.

    The Prime Minister : No appeal has been received.

     

    Nuclear Non-proliferation

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what steps have been taken by Her Majesty’s Government to halt the geographical proliferation of nuclear weapons by nuclear-armed states to their military allies.

    The Prime Minister : As a depositary power for the treaty on the non -proliferation of nuclear weapons–NPT–the United Kingdom has consistently worked to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to encourage other states to accede to and abide by the treaty.

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the actions taken by Her Majesty’s Government to support and strengthen each article, respectively, of the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

    The Prime Minister : The information is not centrally recorded and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. In our role as a depositary power for the treaty, the United Kingdom has strongly supported the NPT since its inception, and has been consistently active to this end.

     

    South Africa

    Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy in regard to South Africa on (a) the need for transitional arrangements for the Government during the negotiating process, (b) the continued detention of political prisoners, (c) the implementation of the national peace accord, (d) the introduction of regulations banning the carrying of weapons at political rallies and (e) the proposal to give the white electorate a veto through a referendum on any agreement reached at the convention for a democratic South Africa.

    The Prime Minister : I welcome the negotiations which are taking place within the Convention for a Democratic South Africa-CODESA. I have discussed them with President de Klerk and Mr. Mandela in meetings this month. It is for the South African people to decide on constitutional issues and any transitional arrangements.

    We have urged the release of all political prisoners throughout South Africa : more than 1,000 political prisoners were released last year.

    I welcomed the national peace accord when it was signed last year. Since then I have urged all parties to work for its implementation. I welcome all measures designed to reduce the risk of violence. The South African Government have proposed a referendum to obtain the views of all South Africans. The procedure for this is a matter for discussion in CODESA.

    Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister what consideration he has given to the National party proposals published on 5 September 1991 on constitutional change in South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : I welcome the National party’s intention to negotiate a democratic constitution which is non-racial and based on universal suffrage. These issues are being discussed in the Convention for a Democratic South Africa.

     

    President de Klerk

    Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his meeting with President de Klerk on 1 February.

    The Prime Minister : I met President de Klerk on 2 February. We discussed the constitutional talks in South Africa. The President expressed his determination to see them through to a new constitution. On township violence, President de Klerk said that national peace accord measures were in place and beginning to prove effective. The Goldstone commission was examining allegations against the South African defence force. The President explained the progress made in integration in sport, and said that unification of control of rugby should be concluded by late March. We agreed to keep up our dialogue.

     

    Dietary Supplements

    Mr. Fearn : To ask the Prime Minister who will represent Britain at the meeting to be held between the European Commission and the member Community states on a draft Council directive on dietary supplements.

    The Prime Minister : The meeting to which the hon. Member refers will be attended by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Health. I should add that no Council directive on dietary supplements has yet been drafted : the meeting is to examine a Commission discussion paper.

     

    Pay Review Bodies

    Sir Anthony Meyer : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the latest reports of the pay review bodies.

    The Prime Minister : In 1992 reports of the review bodies on the pay of the doctors and dentists, the professions allied to medicine, nursing staff, midwives and health visitors, the armed forces and school teachers have been published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office. The Government are grateful to the members of the review bodies for the time and care which they have put into the preparation of the reports.

    The following table shows the increases recommended by the review bodies for each group, and their cost.

    Review body |Pay bill |Range of |Public

    |increase |increases |expenditure

    |1992-93<1> |cost

    |per cent. |per cent. |£ million

    ————————————————————————-

    Doctors and dentists

    (DDRB) <2> |6.0 |5.5-8.5 |<3>314

    Nurses and allied professions (NAPRB) <2>

    -nurses and midwives |5.8 |5.6-6.0 |<3>435

    -professions allied to medicine (PAMs) |6.3 |6.2-6.5 |<3>48

    Armed forces (AFRB)<4> |5.9 |5.9-7.9 |274

    Schoolteachers (STRB)<5> |7.8 |7.5 |765

    <1> Percentages by which the awards would increase the estimated 1992-93 pay bill.

    <2> Great Britain. Northern Ireland health service pay normally follows Great Britain but is described separately.

    <3> Includes cost of staff in NHS Trusts.

    <4> United Kingdom.

    <5> England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate pay regimes for school teachers.

    The Government accept these recommendations and propose to pay them in full from 1 April 1992. The cost of implementing them will be met from within the public expenditure planning totals published in the autumn statement.

    The Government recognise that the cost of the health service awards could not be met in full from present health service provision without adversely affecting services to patients. The Government will therefore provide an extra £149 million from the reserve for next year. The Government also accept that local education authorities would have difficulty in absorbing the full cost of the teachers’ pay award, and have therefore decided to finance from the reserve an additional £60 million of grant to local authorities. The cost for the armed forces will be absorbed within the defence budget.

  • PMQT – 9 July 1991

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 9th July 1991.

    PRIME MINISTER

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 9 July.

    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. Griffiths : The Prime Minister must be aware of the 253 per cent. pay increase of the chief executive of Yorkshire Electricity–yet another in a long line of outrageous pay increases to the chiefs of former publicly owned industries. Is not it true that the right hon. Gentleman refuses to do anything about those pay rises because of his friends and former colleagues on the boards of those companies, who are stuffing their pockets with money as fast as it can be snatched from the long-suffering consumer?

    The Prime Minister : The hon. Gentleman gives a prize example of Labour humbug. The Labour party’s policy document “Opportunity Britain” states :

    “British industry now needs a long term commitment from Government but not in the form of second guessing industry”.

    The hon. Gentleman should remember that.

    Mr. Gwilym Jones : May I remind my right hon. Friend that, so far this year, his Government have supported the creation of 4,500 new jobs in Wales and nearly £352 million of investment for the Principality? Every announcement of such good news has been greeted contemptuously by Labour Members. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the tactics of the luddite left are the surest, fastest way of undermining investor confidence?

    The Prime Minister : I agree with my hon. Friend. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has just returned from the United States with a significant package of job-creating projects, promising more than 500 new jobs. I should have thought that the Opposition would welcome that.

    Mr. Kinnock : When the Prime Minister meets the Heads of Government of the G7 major industrialised nations next week, will he explain to them how he managed to get an oil-rich country like Britain to the bottom of the employment, growth and investment leagues?

    The Prime Minister : The right hon. Gentleman should look at what has happened over the past 10 years, when our growth has far outstripped that of almost every other industrial nation. Over the decade as a whole, we have one of the best job creation records of any nation.

    Mr. Kinnock : The Prime Minister chooses to speak of the past. Will he therefore recognise that, for the past three years, we have been at the bottom of those employment, growth and investment leagues and that, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, with his policies we will be in that position again next year? Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that this is the first time that any country has been at the bottom for four consecutive years? As the right hon. Gentleman has been a Treasury Minister or the Prime Minister over the whole period, does he agree that he should accept unique responsibility for this unique failure?

    The Prime Minister : The right hon. Gentleman should have read on in the OECD report, where it was made clear that lower inflation is the essential condition for sustained growth. Everybody recognises that except the right hon. Gentleman. Indeed, only last week at the National Economic Development Council, trade unionists such as Mr. Jordan, Mr. Edmonds and Mr. Willis all supported the steps to reduce inflation. Only the right hon. Gentleman does not know where prosperity begins.

    Mr. Kinnock : By pushing the economy into deep recession, the Prime Minister can, of course, reduce inflation. Does he think that, under his policies, he will be higher placed on the growth, employment and investment leagues next year? Does he recognise that, if he is not, he is just laying the seeds for further inflation?

    The Prime Minister : We are absolutely refusing to take action now that may lay the seeds for future inflation. We are determined to ensure that we not only get inflation down but keep it down. Unlike the right hon. Gentleman, we shall not take the easy option now at the risk of problems later.

    Mr. Robert Banks : Has my right hon. Friend read the reports of the conference of the Transport and General Workers Union–the union which, incidentally, sponsors the Leader of the Opposition–

    Mr. Speaker : Order. This must be related to the Government’s responsibilities.

    Mr. Banks : Has he read about its calls for the scrapping of all trade union laws, with the consequent return of Mr. Ron Todd’s secondary strikes and flying pickets? Is not he thankful that in framing industrial laws, his party conferences have not been tainted by the block votes of the trade union ballots?

    The Prime Minister : It is perfectly clear that Labour Members are sensitive about their relationship with the trade unions. They are right to be, because their idea of democracy is demonstrated every year when the leader of the Transport and General Workers Union visits the Labour party conference–one man, 1 million votes, and the right hon. Gentleman does as he is told.

     

    Q2. Mr. Hoyle : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 9 July.

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

    Mr. Hoyle : When the Prime Minister takes time off from his engagements, will he do what the Home Secretary so conspicuously failed to do yesterday and accept total and unconditional responsibility for the appalling lapse in security that allowed two alleged terrorists to escape from Brixton gaol? Does not he realise what an enormous propaganda coup the Government have given the IRA?

    The Prime Minister : Everyone shares the concern at the lapse in security yesterday which resulted in two prisoners escaping. That is a matter of genuine regret, not least by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. Those problems have occurred before under previous Governments, but only this Government have taken action to tighten security, improve the conditions of prison staff and provide new and proper prison places.

    Mr. Butterfill : Does my right hon. Friend agree not only that a minimum wage would be damaging but that a minimum wage based on median wages would be the worst of all, because it would continue to ratchet upwards as the median moved upwards? That would lead to a catastrophic rise in wages, destruction of jobs and a policy that could have been dreamt up only by a shadow Cabinet controlled by 18 trade union-sponsored Members out of 20.

    The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend is entirely right. It is now generally understood by everyone except those on the Opposition Front Bench that a minimum wage policy would devastate British industry and create a substantial amount of unemployment.

     

    Q3. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 9 July.

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

    Mr. Banks : As the Prime Minister says that he believes in the creation of a classless society, will he assure the House that he will not recommend the creation of any hereditary peerages?

    The Prime Minister : The subject of honours is not a matter that I am required to answer in front of the House and I do not propose to do so.

     

    Q4. Mr. Hannam : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 9 July.

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

    Mr. Hannam : Does my right hon. Friend share my concern about the admission by Iraq that it has been developing a nuclear weapon? Does he agree that any responsible political party in this country should give a firm pledge not to give up nuclear weapons as long as other countries still have them and countries such as Iraq are developing them?

    The Prime Minister : I agree with my hon. Friend and can certainly give him the assurance that he seeks. Iraq has now admitted to having a secret uranium enrichment programme. That is a clear violation of the nuclear safeguards agreement and of Iraq’s non-proliferation treaty obligations. As I said some time ago at the Scottish conference in Perth, we shall ensure by whatever means it takes that Iraq can never again build up a capacity to threaten its neighbours with nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.

    Mr. Ashdown : Leaving aside for a moment the question of how the Bank of Credit and Commerce International got into its present position, will the Prime Minister assure the House that he personally understands the scale of the tragedy that is befalling BCCI investors? Is he aware that in some communities in Britain, up to 30 per cent. of traders are account holders in BCCI? Will he look at the rules governing compensation, which many regard as incapable of meeting the needs of those innocent people whose livelihoods are being destroyed?

    The Prime Minister : I do, of course, understand the depth of tragedy that the apparent collapse of BCCI may mean. As yet, we are not sure what the outcome of the Serious Fraud Office investigation, the Bank of England investigation or other matters will be. The deposit protection fund was explicitly set up to protect small depositors, particularly those people with whom the right hon. Gentleman is most concerned, and it will apply in these circumstances.

     

    Q5. Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 9 July.

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

    Mr. Hughes : Has my right hon. Friend had time to read the private Member’s Bill that would give the National Audit Office power to cost Opposition policies? If the Bill becomes law, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that the National Audit Office will be given sufficient staff to carry out that important task because it is a big job–commitments are added week by week and speech by speech by Labour spokesmen–or is it a task which would be beyond anybody?

    The Prime Minister : I welcome my hon. Friend’s tongue-in-cheek suggestion, but I fear that he suggests a little too much. Only last Friday, the Labour party explained that its regional assemblies would be funded by block grant from Westminster. As usual, no price tag was attached and we may yet have to determine what that price tag is. As many hon. Members may have seen on “Panorama” last night, a member of the Labour party, Professor Rowthorne, summed up the matter adequately. Asked about Labour’s spending plans, he said :

    “Frankly I think they don’t add up. If you take their whole list of spending plans and say where’s the money for this going to come from I think the answer is–I have no idea.”

    We have a very good idea–from the taxpayer’s pocket.

    Mr. John P. Smith : Will the Prime Minister take this opportunity to reassure the people of Wales by condemning the ludicrous suggestion that the Royal Welch Fusiliers could ever be merged with the Cheshire regiment, or that the oldest and one of the finest regiments in Wales could ever be disbanded?

    The Prime Minister : We have very great concern for the regimental structure, which is more than the Opposition have shown during the past few years. Final decisions on “Options for Change” will take account of all relevant factors. Those decisions have not yet been made. When they are, my right hon. Friend and I shall be here to answer for them.

     

    Q6. Mr. Riddick : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 9 July.

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

    Mr. Riddick : When my right hon. Friend met the leaders of the trade unions yesterday, did he feel that his position was significantly enhanced by the fact that those same trade unions do not wield 90 per cent. of the votes at his party’s conference and do not provide 70 per cent. of the funding for his party and that 18 of his Cabinet Ministers are not sponsored by trade unions?

    The Prime Minister : Yes, I agree that that gives me a degree of freedom not open to everyone else. There is no doubt that Conservative employment laws have brought about a record on industrial relations which is currently the envy of the whole of Europe. We had fewer strikes last year than at any time since the war. In contrast, Labour’s strikers’ charter gives the unions exactly what they want and no one can doubt their ambitions. As Ron Todd said I shall read this slowly so that hon. Members can listen :

    “We do not want to go back to 1979–things weren’t that good even then.”

     

    Q7. Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 9 July.

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

    Mr. Winnick : As hostilities are being renewed, with accusations and counter-accusations by former Cabinet Ministers, is there any truth in the rumour floating round Westminster that a small EC peace-keeping mission is to come over here to try to restore some peace in the Prime Minister’s party?

    The Prime Minister : No, Sir.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 29 April 1991

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 29th April 1991.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    St. John Ambulance Brigade

    Mr. Redmond : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make facilities available to staff in his office to contribute to the appeal that has been launched for people with the name of John to help raise £5 million for the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

    The Prime Minister : Arrangements exist for officials to contribute by deduction from pay to charities of their choice. The decision by members of my office about which charitable appeals to support must be a matter for them.

     

    Drink Driving

    Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Prime Minister if he, with his colleagues responsible for transport in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will consider consultations on ways to let the public know whether a driver killed in a road crash had consumed alcohol.

    The Prime Minister : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply he received from my hon. Friend the Member for Fareham (Mr. Lloyd) on 22 April 1991 at columns 350-51.

     

    Management Consultants

    Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total sum paid out in fees by the Prime Minister’s office to management consultants in 1979-80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990-91 and budget for 1991-92.

    The Prime Minister : There has been no expenditure by my office on fees to management consultants since 1979-80, and none is planned for 1991-92.

    Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total sum paid out in fees by the Cabinet Office to management consultants in 1979-80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990-91 and budget for 1991-92.

    The Prime Minister : The expenditure by the Cabinet Office, including from its creation on 1 October 1987, the Office of the Minister of the Civil Service, on management and computer consultancies, including certain consultancies relating to the civil service as a whole, in the financial years from 1983-84 is as follows :

    Year |£

    ————————

    1983-84 |152,000

    1984-85 |423,818

    1985-86 |329,334

    1986-87 |505,092

    1987-88 |417,778

    The figures for each year since then, which exclude the cost of computer consultants, are as follows :

    Year |£

    ———————————

    1988-89 |70,608

    1989-90 |51,500

    1990-91 |<1>182,000

    1991-92 |<2>242,735

    <1>Estimate.

    <2>Budget.

    Note:

    The figures for 1990-91 and 1991-92 reflect increases in management consultancies undertaken by the Cabinet Office for the civil service generally.

     

    Press and Public Relations

    Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total expenditure by the Cabinet Office on press and public relations in 1979-80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990-91 and budget for 1991-92.

    The Prime Minister : Expenditure on press and public relations by the Cabinet Office was :

    |£

    ————————

    1984-85 |247,495

    1985-86 |232,980

    1986-87 |224,813

    1987-88 |215,925

    1988-89 |201,837

    1989-90 |205,650

    The latest estimate for 1990-91 is £165,088 and the budget for 1991-92 is £213,323.

    Similar information is not available for the years prior to 1984-85.

    Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total expenditure by the Prime Minister’s office on press and public relations in 1979-80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990-91 and budget for 1991-92.

    The Prime Minister : Expenditure by my office on press and public relations was not recorded separately before 1987-88. The total expenditure for each year since then and the budget for 1991-92 are as follows :

    |£

    ———————————

    1987-88 |377,987

    1988-89 |419,326

    1989-90 |427,802

    1990-91 |<1>553,010

    1991-92 |<2>554,748

    <1> Estimate.

    <2> Budget.

    Note: The figures for 1990-91 and 1991-92 include notional superannuation costs which are excluded from the figures for earlier years.

     

    Departmental Staff

    Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will give for each year from 1979-80, including 1991-92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the Cabinet Office; and if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.

    The Prime Minister : The number of staff, by grade, employed on 1 April in each of the years from 1982 in the statistical divisions of the Cabinet Office, differentiated between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts, were :

    Staff in post, with in brackets,

    where different, total complement

    Grade |Members of |Members of |Total

    |Statistician |Administration

    |Group |and other

    ———————————————————————————————-

    1982 |51.0 |153.0 |204.0 |(209.0)

    1983 |50.0 |159.5 |209.5 |(208.5)

    1984 |47.0 |146.0 |193.0 |(193.0)

    1985 |50.5 |136.5 |187.0 |(186.0)

    1986 |52.0 |148.5 |200.5 |(198.5)

    1987

    1a |1 |- |1

    3 |3 |- |3

    5 |9 |1 |10 |(9)

    7 |24 |6 |30 |(31)

    Senior Executive Officer |- |8 |8 |(7)

    Higher Executive Officer |- |23 |23 |(22.5)

    Executive Officer |- |34 |34 |(35.5)

    Administrative Officer |- |24 |24

    Personal Secretary |- |13 |13 |(12.5)

    Senior Assistant and Assistant

    Statistician |9 |- |9 |(11)

    Cadet Statistician |7 |- |7

    Chief Draughtsman |- |1 |1

    Senior Draughtsman |- |1 |1

    Higher Draughtsman |- |2 |2

    Draughtsman |- |6 |6 |(7)

    Information Officer |- |1 |1

    |——- |——- |——- |——-

    |53 |120 |173 |(175.5)

    1988

    1A |1 |- |1

    3 |3 |- |3

    5 |9 |1 |10 |(9)

    7 |25 |4 |29 |(31)

    Senior Executive Officer |- |8 |8

    Higher Executive Officer |- |20 |20 |(21)

    Executive Officer |- |31 |31 |(37)

    Administrative Officer |- |21 |21 |(24)

    Senior Personal Secretary |- |1 |1

    Personal Secretary |- |11 |11 |(11.5)

    Senior Assistant and Assistant Statistician |9 |- |9 |(10)

    Cadet Statistician |6 |- |6 |(7)

    Chief Draughtsman |- |1 |1

    Senior Draughtsman |- |1 |1

    Higher Draughtsman |- |2 |2

    Draughtsman |- |5 |5 |(7)

    Information Officer |- |1 |1

    |——– |——- |——- |——-

    |53 |107 |160 |(175.5)

    1989

    1A |1 |- |1

    3 |3 |- |3

    5 |9 |1 |10 |(9)

    7 |25 |4 |29 |(31.5)

    Senior Executive Officer |- |7 |7 |(5.5)

    Higher Executive Officer |- |18 |18 |(21)

    Executive Officer |- |35 |35 |(36)

    Administrative Officer |- |25 |25 |(24.5)

    Senior Personal Secretary |- |2 |2

    Personal Secretary |- |11 |11 |(10.5)

    Senior Assistant and Assistant Statistician |8 |- |8 |(11)

    Cadet Statistician |3 |- |3 |(1.5)

    Chief Draughtsman |- |1 |1

    Senior Draughtsman |- |1 |1

    Higher Draughtsman |- |2 |2 |(1)

    Draughtsman |- |4 |4 |(7)

    Information Officer |- |1 |1

    |——- |——- |——- |——-

    |49 |112 |161 |(167.5)

    <1>Includes all other non statistician group staff.

    Figures for the years prior to 1982 are no longer available, and information on the numbers of staff by grade is not readily available for the years 1982 to 1986 and cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

    Since July 1989, when the Central Statistical Office became a separate department, the Cabinet Office has had no statistical divisions.

    Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will give for each year from 1979-80, including 1991-92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the Prime Minister’s office; and if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.

    The Prime Minister : During the period in question, there has been no statistical division within my office. There are no statisticians in post or on the staff complement, and there are no plans to create any such posts.

     

    Iraqi Refugees

    Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Prime Minister whether he has any plans to increase the financial year 1991-92 budget of the Overseas Development Administration to cover the costs of emergency relief for Iraqi refugees.

    The Prime Minister : Additions to the overseas aid programme totalling up to £30 million have been agreed to fund the Government’s further efforts to relieve the suffering of Iraqi refugees. Within this total, up to £20 million will be provided to continue the airbridge operation, to provide urgently needed supplies, and to finance the immediately foreseeable costs falling to the aid budget of the United Kingdom’s participation in Operation Haven inside Iraq. The balance of £10 million represents the Government’s contribution to the Kurdish refugee appeal announced on Thursday 25 April. These additions will enable the ODA to maintain its planned development activities, and to continue to provide substantial humanitarian assistance to help relieve famine in Africa.

     

    North Sea

    Mr. David Porter : To ask the Prime Minister if he will set up a high-level task force combining all the Departments of state concerned, all industries involved and all interested parties to bring forward proposals to secure continued viability of all uses and the well-being of the North sea, once gas and oil structures are decommissioned; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : Departments maintain regular contact with a wide range of organisations with an interest in many aspects of the North sea. I see no advantage in establishing an additional forum. Consideration of an abandonment programme by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy under the provisions of the Petroleum Act 1987 will take account of consultations with organisations concerned with other uses of the sea including fishing, and with environmental interests. The abandonment of offshore installations will be performed in such a way as to cause no significant adverse effects upon navigation or the marine environment, in accordance with our international obligations.

     

    Opposition Parties (Access to Civil Service)

    Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Prime Minister whether he will consider allowing opposition parties equal access to civil servants and publicity budgets to enable them to prepare and publicise their own policies.

    The Prime Minister : No. By long-standing convention, civil service time and Government publicity budgets are not used for party political purposes.

    Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the civil service trade unions regarding the effectiveness of the rules set out in the Armstrong memorandum of December 1987 on the propriety of publishing party political material using civil servants’ time.

    The Prime Minister : None.

     

    Arms Trade

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has for an international register of arms sales.

    The Prime Minister : At the special European Council in Luxembourg on 8 April, I proposed a register of arms sales at the United Nations to monitor the scale of arms build-up in any one country. We are taking every opportunity to urge others to support the idea of such a register. Our ambassador at the United Nations is also taking this forward in New York.

     

    First Division Association

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister how many of the demands of the First Division Association code of civil service ethics have been incorporated into official regulations.

    The Prime Minister : The Government’s position is set out in the note by the former head of the home civil service on the duties and responsibilities of civil servants in relation to Ministers, issued in December 1987, subject to the further points contained in the Government’s responses to the fifth report of the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee for the 1989-90 Session.

     

    Iraqi Arms Disposal

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has put to the United Nations for a commission to monitor Iraqi arms disposal.

    The Prime Minister : United Nations Security Council resolution 687 requires the Secretary-General to establish a special commission to oversee the elimination of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. We hope that the special commission will start work as soon as possible, and we shall co-operate with it fully.

     

    Members’ Letters

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 22 April, Official Report, columns 293-94, to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes), whether he will make it his aim to provide responses to Members’ letters to Ministers which are as full and as helpful as possible, on a time scale similar to that for a response to a parliamentary question.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Davis) on 12 February at column 393. I have nothing further to add.

     

    South Africa

    Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister whether he raised with Mr. de Klerk at their meeting on 22 April the failure of the South African Government to release all political prisoners by the target date of 28 February 1991, as agreed in the Pretoria minute of 6 August 1990.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 26 April 1991] : No, not least because the target date of 30 April has not yet been reached.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 25 April 1991

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 25th April 1991.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    President de Klerk

    Q6. Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with President de Klerk of South Africa.

    The Prime Minister : I was glad to have had the opportunity to meet President de Klerk during his visit to the United Kingdom this week. We had a useful talk on a wide range of issues.

    I should add that I also had useful talks with Mr. Nelson Mandela at our meeting yesterday.

     

    Economic and Social Committee (United Kingdom Membership)

    Mr. Beith : To ask the Prime Minister whether he will list the 24 United Kingdom members of the European Community Economic and Social Committee, indicating their dates of appointment, their occupations and their party political affiliations if known.

    The Prime Minister : The United Kingdom members of the Economic and Social Committee who were appointed in September 1990 for a term of four years are as follows. Members are recommended to Council for appointment on the basis of their individual qualifications not political affiliations.

    Neville Beale Esq–Independent Consultant. Former senior executive of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies.
    Michael Bell Esq–Chairman, International Business Communications PLC.
    John Little Esq–Former Chairman and Chief Executive, Anderson Strathclyde. Former Chairman, Scottish Confederation of British Industries.
    Kenneth Gardner Esq MA FRSC–Consultant in food law technology and food technology.
    Dr Felix Kafka–Production and Technical Managements (Health and Safety and Environment), ICI Europa Ltd.
    Michael Mobbs Esq–Chairman and Managing Director,M L Aviation. Dr Ann Robinson–Head of Policy Unit Institute of Directors. John Whitworth Esq– Chairman, Merchant Navy Officers’ Pension Fund. Former Director of the International Shipping Federation. Campbell Christie Esq–General Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress.
    Peter Dawson Esq OBE–General Secretary Professional Association of Teachers.
    Tom Jenkins Esq–Assistant Secretary, Trades Union Congress, International Department.
    John Lyons Esq CBE–General Secretary, Engineers’ and Managers’ Association.
    Miss Ada Maddocks OBE–National Organising Officer (Health Staffs), National Association of Local Government Officers.
    William Morris Esq–Deputy General Secretary, Transport and General Workers’ Union.
    Roy Sanderson Esq OBE–National Secretary, Electrical and Engineering Staff Association (Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunication and Plumbing Union).
    Alexander Smith Esq–General Secretary, National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers.
    Wilfred Aspinall Esq–Executive Director, Managerial, Professional and Staff Liaison Group.
    Mrs Jocelyn Barrow OBE–Deputy Chairman, Broadcasting Standards Council.
    Professor William Black–Economic Adviser, Department of Economic Development, Northern Ireland. Former Professor of Economics, Queen’s University, Belfast.
    Mrs Angela Guillaume–(British) Chairman, European Union of Women.
    Robert Moreland Esq–Former MEP. Member of the Council for Business Graduates Association. Management Consultant. Chairman of Regional Development Section.
    Ms Sue Slipman–Director, National Council for One Parent Families. Michael Strauss Esq–Former Co-ordinating Director for Policy, National Farmers’ Union.
    Andrew Tyrie Esq–Fellow, Nuffield College, Oxford.

     

    Disabled People

    Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to reply to the letter dated 27 March from the hon. Member for Monklands West, concerning the Government’s policy of non-implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

    The Prime Minister : I replied to the hon. Member on 22 April 1991.

    Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Prime Minister what representation he has received from the Act Now Group concerning the Government policy of non-implementation of sections of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and how he has responded.

    The Prime Minister : The Act Now Group and I have corresponded.

     

    Haemophiliacs

    Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Prime Minister what steps are taken to ensure parity of treatment for haemophiliacs in Scotland and Wales so far as factor 8 is concerned.

    The Prime Minister : The prescribing of factor 8 in the treatment of haemophiliacs is a matter for the individual clinicians concerned. Both Scottish and Welsh patients have equal access to the treatment deemed appropriate.

     

    Building Works

    Mr. Fisher : To ask the Prime Minister whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by the Cabinet Office in each of the past five years which (a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

    The Prime Minister : The Cabinet Office has not commissioned any new buildings or extensions in the last five years which had contracts worth more than £3 million.

     

    Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister whether the issue of South Africa signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty was discussed in his meeting with President De Klerk of South Africa in London on 27 April.

    The Prime Minister : Yes.

     

    Chernobyl

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the compensation received by the United Kingdom from (a) the Soviet Union and (b) any other relevant international authority to cover the financial losses incurred by United Kingdom farmers and tourist trade businesses in Scotland, Cumbria, Northern Ireland and North Wales as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear accident in the Soviet Union.

    The Prime Minister : No compensation has been paid to the United Kingdom for damage suffered following the Chernobyl accident. The Soviet Union is not a party to the international conventions on third party liability for nuclear damage.

     

    Iraq

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if he will propose the creation of safe havens for Shias in southern Iraq.

    The Prime Minister : We are concerned for the welfare of all Iraqis. We understand that the International Red Cross and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees are ready to take over responsibility for refugees in those parts of southern Iraq presently occupied by coalition forces. The United Nations Iraq/Kuwait observer mission is being deployed to the border. Our contribution of some £20 million to the UN Secretary-General’s and other international appeals is for the humanitarian need of all Iraqis. We are in touch with both the Kuwaiti and Saudi Governments about access for Iraqi refugees to their countries.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 19 April 1991

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 19th April 1991.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Computers

    Mr. Cohen : To ask the Prime Minister what steps are being taken to ensure that no Government Department makes use of any pirated copies of Inslaw case-tracking Promis software.
    The Prime Minister : All Government Departments operate their information technology systems within the law. To reinforce this, Departments have issued internal notices warning of the consequences of using unlicensed software.

    Iraq

    Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty’s Government towards ensuring that the leaders of the regime in Iraq are tried for crimes against humanity; and if he will make a statement.
    The Prime Minister : Saddam Hussein bears personal responsibility under international law for his crimes and is responsible for those of his subordinates acting under his orders. In the case of both war crimes and genocide Saddam Hussein can, in law, be brought to trial before a national court or international tribunal. We and our EC partners have asked the United Nations Secretary-General to investigate how this might be achieved.

    Interception Commissioner

    Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Prime Minister when the Commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 will present his annual report; and if he will make a statement.
    The Prime Minister : A copy of Lord Justice Lloyd’s fifth annual report for 1990 has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 8(7) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985. The confidential appendix to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 8(8) of the 1985 Act. I am grateful to the Commissioner for his work in reviewing the issue of warrants and note that he remains satisfied that the Secretaries of State continue to exercise scrupulous care in the issue of warrants. Careful consideration is being given to both parts of the Commissioner’s report.

  • Mr Major’s Doorstep Statement on Iraq – 17 April 1991

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s doorstep interview outside 10 Downing Street at 7.30am on 17th April 1991.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    The proposal to establish some safe havens in Northern Iraq is now taking shape. When we proposed it some eight or nine days ago we began intensive discussions with a large number of countries, with the United States, with France, of course with the United Nations and Peres de Cuelliar and with a number of other nations as well. I am delighted that this proposal is now proceeding and you will know from statements previously made that we intend to establish a number of camps in Northern Iraq. They will be quite large and we will establish them speedily. Earlier this morning a group of top officials flew to the US European Command at Stuttgart where detailed planning for the operation will continue and proceed. We will have further details later today and I anticipate that the Foreign Secretary will make a statement to the House this afternoon. I can take a couple of questions before I have to leave for the North.

    JOHN HARRISON:

    What will be the orders given to troops should they consider it necessary to engage with Iraqi troops to protect the refugees?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    These are the matters that are under discussion at Stuttgart at the moment and we will make that clear at a later stage. We do not anticipate that there will be any difficulties. We think the Iraqis will respect what is going to happen. Nevertheless it is absolutely essential to get the Kurds down off the mountains and into safe havens speedily. There is no time to delay with that, it is urgent and it will proceed immediately.

    JOHN SERGEANT:

    It could take a long time to solve the problem of the Kurdish refugees, are you prepared to allow British troops to stay there as long as necessary?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    We do not have a long time to leave the Kurds where they are at the moment, and for them to safely survive. We must proceed with action now without delay and that is what we are going to do. We will see what we can do about further implementation of returning them to their homes at a later stage but we can not await for a final decision on that before we take action. Action is needed, it is needed now and that is what is going to happen.

    ANOTHER REPORTER:

    How many troops are we talking about?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I would imagine from the United Kingdom it would be less than a Brigade, but that is part of the detailed planning and discussion that is going on this morning. But there will be a number of camps and we will need to make some strategic decisions upon which we need military advice and decisions as to how many troops there will be, but there will be British troops there, there will be French troops there, there will be American engineers there, there will be American air cover. But the precise size of that will be determined over the next few hours.

    ANOTHER REPORTER:

    Is this too little too late?

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Well I think that criticism can be left to stand don’t you think? This is the most wide ranging proposal that anybody has produced. The criticism often comes from people who have made very little contribution to what has happened. I think action will speak far louder than words and will drown that criticism.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 16 April 1991

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 16th April 1991.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    HMS Endurance

    Q9. Mr. Shersby : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to continue the deployment of HMS Endurance in the south Atlantic including South Georgia and Antarctica; and if he will make a statement on the replacement of the present vessel by the mid-1990s
    The Prime Minister : Endurance will return from her current deployment in the south Atlantic in May, which is the end of the Antarctic summer. Studies into the best way of fulfilling the role currently undertaken by Endurance are continuing.

    Iraq

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what requests Her Majesty’s Government have had for air cover from anti-Saddam forces in (a) northern Iraq and (b) southern Iraq.
    The Prime Minister : We have received a number of representations requesting the coalition forces in the Gulf to prevent the Iraqi air force from flying missions. Security Council resolution 688 demands that the Iraqi Government should end their repression of their own people. We are working urgently to create safe havens for Iraqi refugees. The United States has warned Iraqi aircraft not to fly north of the 36th parallel.
    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the United States Government about a permanent (a) United States, (b) United States/British and (c) coalition presence in Iraq.
    The Prime Minister : We have no intention of establishing a permanent coalition presence in Iraq. Our recent contacts with the Americans have focused on the need for urgent humanitarian aid to Iraqi refugees both in the north and south of the country. We shall continue to maintain close contacts with the United States on the way ahead.
    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller) of 14 March, Official Report, column 1095, what discussions he has had with the allies on the subject of the use of chemical weapons in Iraq.
    The Prime Minister [holding answer 15 April 1991] : The use of chemical weapons by Iraq is a matter of great concern and has been discussed on many occasions with our allies. We have no firm evidence that such weapons were used during or after the Gulf conflict. At our instigation United Nations Security Council resolution 687, which has been accepted by the Iraqi Government, sets out the United Nations terms for the destruction of Iraq’s chemical weapons capability and affirms that grave consequences would follow any use by Iraq of such weapons.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 15 April 1991

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 15th April 1991.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Iraq

    Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty’s Government have received from international doctors about disease in Iraq.

    The Prime Minister : We have received a number of reports about conditions in Iraq, notably that of United Nations Under Secretary-General Ahtisaari. We have announced a pledge of £20 million to be spent partly bilaterally and multilaterally to alleviate the human tragedy provoked by Saddam Hussein. We are also funding daily airlifts to the refugees at a cost of £1 million per week. These contributions are in addition to earlier substantial pledges to the International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nation agencies’ appeals.

     

    Chile

    Mr. Wray : To ask the Prime Minister if, during the official visit of the President of Chile, the Government will offer improved terms of trade for Chilean exports, and increased transfer of technology and financial support for his programmes.

    The Prime Minister : Chile will benefit from any market access concessions negotiated with the European Community during the GATT round. We increased our bilateral technical co-operation funds for Chile following the accession of President Aylwin’s Government and are presently discussing a number of projects.

    President Aylwin’s visit will lead to closer links between Britain and Chile. I was able to pay tribute to the President’s achievement in restoring and consolidating democracy.

     

    Nuclear Weapons

    Mr. Allen : To ask the Prime Minister whether he is prepared to use nuclear weapons first in response to a conventional attack.

    The Prime Minister : The 1990 NATO London declaration made clear that, while NATO will never in any circumstances be the first to use force, nuclear weapons will continue to fulfil an essential role in the overall strategy of the alliance to prevent war by ensuring that there are no circumstances in which nuclear retaliation in response to military action might be discounted.

     

    Migrant Workers

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty’s Government’s policy towards ratification of the new international convention on the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and their families.

    The Prime Minister : The United Kingdom does not intend to ratify the convention on the protection of migrant workers and their families.

     

    Vehicle Theft

    Mr. Cohen : To ask the Prime Minister if he will set up a joint working party of the Home Office and Department of Transport to investigate the possibility of designing cars to be more resistant to theft.

    The Prime Minister : The Home Office and Department of Transport have investigated ways in which the security of cars could be improved and discussions are in progress between these Departments, and with the motor manufacturers, on how best their findings and recommendations may be implemented. Home Office crime prevention publicity, particularly during crime prevention week this week, aims to increase awareness of the need for effective car security measures. My right Friend the Home Secretary published today a car theft index which allows owners to see which models are particularly subject to theft.

  • PMQT Written Answers – 25 March 1991

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 25th March 1991.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Kashmir

    Mr. Summerson : To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty’s Government will urge the United Nations to implement its resolutions that the people of Kashmir should be given the right of self-determination.

    The Prime Minister : United Nations resolutions on Kashmir over 40 years ago were concerned with the accession to India or Pakistan of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Government consider that any proposal to resolve the continuing dispute over the status of Kashmir needs to take account of subsequent developments, and to be mutually agreed between the Governments of India and Pakistan.

     

    President Gorbachev

    Dr. Thomas : To ask the Prime Minister what matters were discussed at his meeting with President Gorbachev.

    The Prime Minister : The main subjects we discussed were the middle east, arms control, the Baltic states, the progress of political and economic reform in the Soviet Union and bilateral relations.

     

    Kuwait

    Dr. Thomas : To ask the Prime Minister if he will consult the United Kingdom Institute of Waste Management on the methods of reclamation of building rubble for the reconstruction of Kuwait.

    The Prime Minister : The institute would be advised to register with the Department of Trade and Industry’s Kuwait reconstruction database so that United Kingdom expertise in this field can be made available to the Kuwaiti authorities.

     

    Nuclear and Chemical Weapons

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 14 March, Official Report, column 1094, to the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross), if he will list in the Official Report those forums and institutions at which he intends to take up the matter of the export of chemical, nuclear and biological weapons.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office gave to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O’Neill) on 6 March 1991.

     

    Moscow

    Dr. Thomas : To ask the Prime Minister which organisations he met during his recent visit to Moscow.

    The Prime Minister : During my visit to the Soviet Union I held meetings with President Gorbachev, Prime Minister Pavlov, Defence Minister Yazov and representatives of the armed forces, representatives of the Baltic states, and leading liberals.

     

    Child benefit

    Mr. Allen : To ask the Prime Minister further to his oral answer of 7 March, Official Report, column 456, if he will make a further statement on the uprating of child benefit.

    The Prime Minister : I welcome the uprating of child benefit announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement on 19 March 1991.

     

    Research and Development

    Dr. Bray : To ask the Prime Minister, further to his answer of 12 March, Official Report, column 472, what is the estimate of total Government expenditure on research and development in enterprises with fewer than 200 employees; and what proportion of it is estimated to be for defence purposes.

    The Prime Minister : The 1989 survey of expenditure and employment on research and development (R and D) in United Kingdom industry was largely restricted to enterprises with 200 or more employees. A provisional estimate for civil and defence research and development expenditure in enterprises with fewer than 200 employees has been made of £255 million. Details are given in the notes of the Central Statistical Office’s “Business Bulletin” issue 14/91, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

    The nearest grouping for which firm data, disaggregated into civil and defence R and D, exists is that with 200 to 499 employees for which the proportion of expenditure for defence purposes is 2.4 per cent.

     

    President Bush

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the matters discussed during his meeting with President Bush in Bermuda on 16 March.

    The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 21 March at column 193.

     

    Prime Minister, Tuvalu

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if he met the Prime Minister of Tuvalu during his visit to London on 19 March.

    The Prime Minister : No.

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what response he is making to the request for assistance in the establishment of a South Pacific disaster relief programme to respond to natural catastrophes, set out by the Prime Minister of Tuvalu.

    The Prime Minister : This issue was not raised by the Prime Minister of Tuvalu when he saw the Minister for Overseas Development on 18 March. However, we are always ready to respond to the need for disaster relief assistance whether in the Pacific or elsewhere.

     

    Gulf War

    Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Prime Minister what information he has concerning the extent of damage to sewerage systems, water purification plants, hospitals and medical centres in (a) Iraq and (b) Kuwait arising from military action in the Gulf war; and what steps have been taken by Her Majesty’s Government to provide humanitarian aid to each country to alleviate hardship and disease caused by military action.

    The Prime Minister : The United Nations Secretary-General reported to the Security Council on 21 March on Under Secretary-General Ahtisaari’s findings following his mission to Iraq.

    Ahtisaari reported that sewage systems, water purification plants, hospitals and medical centres are largely undamaged but are not functioning fully due to a lack of electricity and fuel. The United Nations sanctions committee is considering how to respond urgently. Although Kuwait suffered widespread damage and sabotage to its infrastructure as a result of the Iraqi invasion and occupation, the Government of Kuwait have already started to organise repairs and have made arrangements to provide purified drinking water. Medical facilities were relatively undamaged and are continuing to operate. The United Kingdom supports the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations relief agencies in Iraq and Kuwait. This year we have already given £2.5 million to the ICRC’s Gulf appeal (the largest single cash donation) and US$1 million to the United Nations appeal co-ordinated by United Nations Disaster Relief Organisation. In addition, the EC Commission has given £8.75 million to support the relief activities in the Gulf region. The share of this attributable to the United Kingdom’s aid budget is £1.75 million.

    Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Prime Minister what initiatives have been taken by Her Majesty’s Government’s representatives to (a) the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, (b) the United Nations environment programme, (c) the International Atomic Energy Agency, (d) the International Energy Agency, (e) the World Health Organisation, (f) the International Labour Organisation, (g) the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, (h) the European Commission and (i) the United Nations, respectively, to alleviate hardship caused to civilians in Iraq and Kuwait caused by the Gulf war.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 22 March 1991] : The International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations relief agencies are the main international organisations providing assistance to civilians in Iraq and Kuwait. A multi-agency UN mission has just returned from Iraq where it has assessed the needs of the civilian population and will shortly be visiting Kuwait. Representatives of British non- governmental organisations, Oxfam and Save the Children Fund, just back from Baghdad, are also planning relief activities. UNEP is helping to tackle the effects of oil pollution in the Gulf. The EC Commission has given £8.75 million to support relief activities in the Gulf region. The share of this attributable to the United Kingdom’s aid budget is £1.75 million.

    We are not aware that the other organisations mentioned are currently providing assistance to civilians in Iraq and Kuwait.

    Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Prime Minister what communications he has had with the director of the World Health Organisation concerning disease and epidemics in Iraqi cities arising from destruction of sewage and water purification plants, and electricity generating stations, by allied bombing in the Gulf war.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 22 March 1991] : We are in close touch with United Nations agencies including the World Health Organisation and the International Committee of the Red Cross about requirements for humanitarian assistance in Iraq.

    Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 12 March, Official Report, column 472, he will make it his policy to make a one-off extra donation to the United Nations children’s organisation, UNICEF, from the United Kingdom to help children in Iraq suffering as a result of the destruction of the economic infrastructure in Iraq from allied bombings.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 22 March 1991] : A multi-agency United Nations mission has recently been in Iraq to assess humanitarian needs. It will make recommendations to the Secretary-General on emergency actions the United Nations might take. In the light of the mission’s report we will consider what response to make to any appeal for funding launched by the Secretary-General, including what would be the most appropriate channel.

     

    Middle East

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the United States Government on the prospective role of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in a peace settlement in the middle east.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 22 March 1991] : We are in regular contact with the United States Administration on all aspects of the Arab/Israel dispute, including the position of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. The PLO has done little to enhance its role in recent months.

     

    Iraq

    Mr. Nellist : To ask the Prime Minister if he will obtain for 10 Downing Street library a copy of the Simon Wiesenthal Foundation report on trade with Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 22 March 1991] : No.

     

    Food Chain

    Mr. Speller : To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish a single department of state to supervise matters relating to the food chain from farm to plate.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 21 March 1991] : No. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food already performs this function, sharing responsibility for food safety with the Department of Health.

  • Mr Major’s Comments on Iraq – 16 March 1991

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s comments made regarding on Iraq on Saturday 16th March 1991 in Bermuda.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked about the ceasefire resolution].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    A number of other people, of course, will need to be consulted, will need to be concerned about it, but we think it will cover a number of things. It will cover, for example, an arms embargo to Iraq; it will probably cover the destruction of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons that Iraq has; it will certainly cover the release of Kuwaiti detainees; and I suspect it may well also cover hypothecation of oil revenues in order to meet reparations.

    Those are the sort of things that I would expect to be in the resolution, but there will be more than that, it will be a lengthy resolution.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked how such an agreement would be enforced].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    It will be part of the ceasefire resolution, it will be a United Nations resolution. There will be sanctions imposed if it isn’t honoured.