The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Tag: Kurdish Safe Havens

  • PMQT Written Answers – 18 June 1991

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 18th June 1991.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Sign Language

    Mr. Ashley : To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty’s Government’s policy towards the recommendation of the EEC resolution of June 1988 to give official recognition to British sign language for the deaf.

    The Prime Minister : The Government have noted the terms of the resolution on sign languages for deaf people adopted by the European Parliament in June 1988. We fully recognise the right of deaf people to use their preferred method of communication, including British sign language and have grant aided a variety of organisations concerned with the promotion and development of sign languages and other communication techniques.

     

    Cruise Missiles

    Sir Michael McNair-Wilson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the departure to the United States of America of the last flight of Cruise missiles and the de-activation of 501 missile wing USAF at Greenham common.

    The Prime Minister : The departure of the last cruise missiles from RAF Greenham Common on 5 March and the deactivation of the 501st Tactical Missile Wing on 4 June mark an important milestone in the implementation of the INF treaty. As well as making a vital contribution to the NATO alliance, the 501st Tactical Missile Wing has been a valuable presence in this country and welcome neighbours to the people of Newbury. The United States presence in Newbury will continue at a reduced level with the base returning to standby status.

     

    Kurdish People

    Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West, of 25 April, Official Report, column 520; if he will now consider establishing safe havens in southern Iraq.

    The Prime Minister : We remain very concerned by the situation of refugees in southern Iraq. We believe the best way forward is to continue our support for the work of the United Nations, including the establishment of a humanitarian centre in Basra and the expansion of relief efforts in the area. We welcome the Secretary General’s decision to send a high-level fact finding mission to the south to assess humanitarian needs.

    Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Prime Minister when he will answer the letters on behalf of the organisation British Aid for the Kurds of 17 April and 11 June sent to him by Mrs. Judith P. Stubbs of Culthorpe, Chesterfield.

    The Prime Minister : The letter sent in April by Mrs. Stubbs was among the 3,500 letters about Iraq and kind offers of help for the Kurds received by my office at that time. These were sent as appropriate to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Overseas Development Administration to take forward.

    The ODA has been in frequent contact with British Aid for Kurds since April to offer advice on the changing types of aid that would be most useful to the Kurds as the situation developed. The ODA chartered two Iran Air flights which carried over 90 tonnes of aid collected by British Aid for the Kurds. A reply to Mrs. Stubbs’s latest letter will be sent shortly.

     

    Energy Efficiency

    Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the main items of expenditure included in the £78,000 spent in 1990-91 on improving the energy efficiency of the Cabinet Office.

    The Prime Minister : The main items of expenditure in the £78,000 spent during 1990-91 on improving energy efficiency in the Cabinet Office were :

    Energy efficient lighting for the new residential block and roads and pathways in the grounds of the Civil Service College, Sunningdale – 48,766 pounds

    Energy audits of various buildings including Nos. 10-12 Downing Street – 7,245 pounds

    Energy efficient lighting scheme for 70 Whitehall – 22,000 pounds

     

    Engagements

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

    Mr. Ray Powell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 18 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.

     

    “Blueprint for Football”

    Mr. Pendry : To ask the Prime Minister what support Her Majesty’s Government intend to offer to the “Blueprint for Football” launched by the Professional Footballers Association on 6 June; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 17 June 1991] : We welcome any new initiative that will promote greater unity in the leadership of the game and help football raise the necessary funds to implement Lord Justice Taylor’s recommendations and thereby improve standards of safety and comfort for spectators. My hon. Friend the Minister for Sport has had discussions with the Professional Footballers Association, the Football Association, the Football League and representatives of the supporters’ associations to hear their various proposals for the future of the game. He has not indicated a view on any of them other than to welcome them as a contribution to the debate. He has made it clear that decisions are for football alone to take.

     

    Birmingham Olympiad

    Sir Neil Macfarlane : To ask the Prime Minister if he has any plans to meet the president of the International Olympic Committee during the Olympiad in Birmingham ; what functions the Government intend to host during that event ; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 17 June 1991] : I have not yet had the opportunity of meeting the president of the International Olympic Committee. However, the Minister for Sport was present at the opening of the 97th congress of the IOC in Birmingham and had discussions with the president, other senior officials and members of the IOC. The Government were not invited to host any functions.

  • 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.

  • 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.