The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Tag: Somalia

  • PMQT Written Answers – 17 December 1992

    Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 17th December 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Pit Closures

    Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister when the Government first received the plans for pit closures from British Coal ; and what consideration was given to publishing them immediately.

    The Prime Minister : The Government had been aware for some time of British Coal’s need to reduce capacity, because of the decline in the market for British coal. In addition, the Department of Trade and Industry and its advisers had made their own assessment of which pits might close, so that it could prepare measures to mitigate the impact, taking into account information from British Coal. British Coal informed my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 12 October of the final list of pits which it proposed to close. British Coal announced the names on 13 October.

     

    European Council, Edinburgh

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what is his current estimate of the total cost to the Exchequer of the holding of the Edinburgh summit of the European Council.

    The Prime Minister : The cost of the organisation of the European Council is of the order of £6.9 million. The policing costs, 51 per cent. of which are funded by central Government, are expected to amount to a further £2.5 million approximately.

     

    China

    Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent visit by Lord Howe to discuss human rights in the People’s Republic of China.

    The Prime Minister : My right hon. noble and learned Friend Lord Howe led a delegation to China from 1 to 7 December. The delegation had detailed discussions with the Chinese authorities on human rights and related issues, including legal and religious issues, national minorities, and Chinese policies towards Tibet. They also met families of dissidents and visited foreign embassies, courts and places of detention. They were able to convey frankly to the Chinese the concerns of many in the west about China’s human rights record. There was little meeting of minds with the Chinese authorities, but the basis has been laid for continuing exchanges on these issues. My right hon. noble and learned Friend Lord Howe will in due course submit a formal report on the visit to me. That report will be placed in the Library of this House.

     

    Constitutional Discussions

    Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 24 November 1992, Official Report, column 580, what communications he has had with the heads of Government of other Commonwealth countries of which the Queen is sovereign on matters relating to the common constitutional link of the Crown and his statement to the House of 9 December, since 24 November.

    The Prime Minister : I have had no such communications.

     

    Yalta Talks

    Mr. Cohen : To ask the Prime Minister how many documents relating to the Yalta talks have not yet been released under the 30-year rule.

    The Prime Minister : Such an exercise could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.

     

    Security Personnel

    Mr. Cox : To ask the Prime Minister what is the Government’s policy as to the cost of funding of security personnel who accompany former senior Government Ministers travelling for private purposes; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : Decisions on the personal protection provided for former Government Ministers making official or private journeys are operational matters for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The cost of providing such protection by police officers is met from the Metropolitan police fund.

     

    Development Aid

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty’s Government have received calling for increased United Kingdom and European Community development aid during the United Kingdom’s presidency of the European Council.

    The Prime Minister : The Government have received a number of representations about the future level of overseas aid provided by the United Kingdom and the European Community.

     

    Animal Welfare

    Mr. Gale : To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy on whether animal welfare should be a proper subject for European competence; what decisions on this subject were taken at Edinburgh; what effect the European Council conclusions at Edinburgh will have on animal welfare directives currently in force or under consideration throughout the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister : The Community acts on animal welfare matters that fall within the common agricultural policy or trade policy; it also has discretion to act in other areas. At the Edinburgh European Council, the Commission made clear its intention to review Community legislation on animal welfare during 1993 in the context of subsidiarity. The United Kingdom remains committed to work for improvements in animal welfare throughout the Community, but this does not necessarily include Community legislation.

     

    Homeless People

    Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit homeless people in (a) London and (b) Huntingdon during the Christmas period.

    The Prime Minister : Ministers and officials in the Department of the Environment make regular visits to homelessness projects in different parts of England and keep me fully informed of the situation.

     

    Security Risks

    Mr. Milburn : To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions in each year since 21 November 1979, and so far in 1992, the Director-General of the Security Service has reported to him information about a present or former Minister or senior public servant indicating that he or she may be or may have been a security risk; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 7 December 1992] : It is not the Government’s practice to comment on security matters.

     

    President-elect Clinton

    Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with President-elect Clinton about the inquiries made by the Home Office concerning a possible application at some stage for United Kingdom citizenship; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 11 December 1992] : None. I have told the President-elect of my regret at some of the press reports.

     

    Somalia

    Mr. Michael : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy that Britain’s efforts to help Somalia, whether through development aid or immediate financial aid and advice, shall be concentrated on the north (Republic of Somaliland).

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 15 December 1992] : Britain has pledged more than £31 million of humanitarian aid to Somalia this year, including our share of EC aid. All our assistance is channelled through United Nations agencies and British and international non-governmental organisations. In addition to food, we have funded transport and logistical support to the relief effort, medical supplies, water and sanitation equipment and agricultural supplies–seeds and tools. The EC has responded well and committed 206,000 tonnes of food aid of which two thirds has been shipped and one half delivered.

    Aid is allocated where the need is greatest, where mechanisms and agencies are available to deliver it and where it reflects the requests for assistance which we receive from the United Nations agencies and non- governmental organisations who are working on the ground.

     

    Slovenia

    Sir Dudley Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to continue to promote good relations between the United Kingdom and Slovenia, following the general election which took place there in December.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 15 December 1992] : Following President Kucan’s victory in the Slovenian elections on 6 December, we wish him and his Government well as they continue their programme of political and economic reform.

    Sir Dudley Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what assessment was made by the Council of Europe observer team of the fairness of the recent general election in Slovenia; and if he will make a statement.

    The Prime Minister [holding answer 15 December 1992] : We have yet to receive the Council of Europe’s definitive report on the Slovenian presidential and parliamentary elections. Preliminary press reports suggest that the elections were fair and free.

  • PMQT – 24 November 1992

    Below is the text of Prime Minister’s Question Time from 24th November 1992. Tony Newton deputised for John Major.

    PRIME MINISTER:

     

    Engagements

    Q1. Mr. Amess : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

    The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Tony Newton) : I have been asked to reply.

    My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is attending a lunch– [Interruption.] given by the Lord Mayor and the Corporation of the City of London to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Her Majesty the Queen– [Interruption.] I understand that the Leader of the Opposition is also there.

    Mr. Amess : Basildon now being regarded as the barometer for national and international opinion, is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a most favourable reading following the excellent autumn statement and the outcome of the settlement of the GATT round? Will my right hon. Friend take the opportunity to appeal to politicians of all parties to talk up this wonderful country of ours rather than so treacherously talking it down, safe in the knowledge that he bats for Braintree as I bat for Basildon?

    Mr. Newton : I agree that, throughout the county that my hon. Friend and I have in common, the measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor and the achievement of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in relation to GATT have received a great welcome. I am tempted to extend my hon. Friend’s alliteration by saying that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is batting for Britain, but in fact he is batting for the whole world economic community and it is time he was given credit for his success.

    Mrs. Beckett : Is the Lord President aware that while the Prime Minister, desperate to have something to show for a lacklustre British presidency, has been scurrying around Europe talking up the prospects of a European growth package, in Brussels today the Chancellor has been steadily talking it down? Which of them speaks for the Government?

    Mr. Newton : My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has been doing no such thing. ECOFIN, in which he participated, had a very important discussion yesterday directed to the growing concern about the recession in the Community and considered how, individually and collectively, the countries of the Community could work to improve the prospects of recovery on lines very similar to those adopted for this country in the autumn statement.

    Mrs. Beckett : But are not the chaos and confusion arising because, even though 1,000 British jobs have been lost in every day of the United Kingdom presidency, the growth package, instead of being at the top of the presidency agenda where it should have been, is a half-hearted afterthought?

    Mr. Newton : If there is any chaos and confusion, it is with Her Majesty’s Opposition, who fought the election campaign on a programme which they have since acknowledged would have made the recession significantly worse, and who continue to advance measures- -a minimum wage, a payroll tax, the social charter–which would end all prospects of recovery.

    Mr. Bates : Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating the employees of Nissan UK, who have achieved the European car of the year award for the British-built Micra? Does he also agree that that further demonstrates a transformation of the British car industry from one renowned for poor quality and militancy under a Labour Government to one renowned for high quality and high achievement, of which we can all be proud, under this Government?

    Mr. Newton : Yes, indeed, and it is an achievement that I view with particular pleasure in view of the connection that I had with the economic problems in and around Sunderland some years ago. It is a major achievement for the new industries that we have brought to that area that Nissan has won the award for its car. It will form part of an achievement to which I look forward–that of this country becoming a net exporter of cars for the first time in many years.

     

    Q2. Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Raynsford : Is the Minister aware of the report published yesterday by the Engineering Employers Federation, which highlights the urgent need for a strategy to regenerate Britain’s industrial and manufacturing base, and its conclusion that the Department of Trade and Industry lacks both the competence and the commitment to achieve that? If the President of the Board of Trade is not going to intervene before breakfast, before lunch and before tea, will the Leader of the House urge the Prime Minister to do so when he gets back from lunch?

    Mr. Newton : I have just referred to the achievements of an important part of British manufacturing industry, which is significantly more successful than it has been for many years and certainly more than it was under the administration of Opposition Members. If I ask anyone to read anything, I shall invite them to read the hon. Gentleman’s recent article, in this month’s Fabian Review about the Opposition, entitled, “Sleepwalking Into Oblivion?”

    Dr. Liam Fox : Does my right hon. Friend welcome reports that the Germans will, after all, play a full role in the European fighter aircraft project, with all the implications that that has for British jobs? Does not that and the GATT round negotiations imply a triumph for the Prime Minister’s quiet style of international diplomacy?

    Mr. Newton : I believe that it does and, referring back to a previous question, it shows the efforts made by my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the President of the Board of Trade and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to advance the interests of British manufacturing industry.

     

    Q3. Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Winnick : Does the Leader of the House accept that it shows no lack of respect to the Queen to suggest that the full cost of restoring Windsor castle should not fall entirely on public funds? Will that be considered by the Cabinet, and can the Leader of the House tell us whether the Cabinet have ruled out entirely the possibility of the Queen paying at least some income tax on her vast investment income?

    Mr. Newton : On the latter part of the question, I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Cunningham) on 3 November. On the first part of the question, the position is well known. The fabric of Windsor castle is state property and has long been recognised as such. All that my right hon. Friend the Heritage Secretary said yesterday was in acknowledgement of that simple fact.

     

    Q4. Mr. Riddick : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

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

    Mr. Riddick : Does my right hon. Friend agree that the measures contained in the autumn statement to help industry, along with the recent reductions in interest rates, are beginning to provide that vital ingredient–confidence–among industrialists? Does he share my pleasure at the somewhat unexpected support for the autumn statement last Thursday evening–either out of incompetence, which seems likely, or out of conviction, which seems less likely–from Her Majesty’s loyal Opposition?

    Mr. Newton : I share my hon. Friend’s view of the autumn statement’s reception–not least its emphasis on capital programmes and the measures directed towards the housing market, to the release of local authority receipts, to capital allowances and to export credits. There is a long list of comments from people in British industry supporting those measures. I am bound to wonder whether the occupants of the Opposition Front Bench could produce a list of any length in support of what they have put forward.

     

    Sheffield

    Q5. Mr. Michie : To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit Sheffield.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is making plans for a series of visits to all parts of the country– [Interruption.] Wait for it! He hopes to include Sheffield among them.

    Mr. Michie : I am sure that we can cope with that threat. Indeed, we look forward to the right hon. Gentleman’s visit. Is the Leader of the House aware that we hope that, during that visit, the Prime Minister will go around Sheffield’s housing stock in the public sector, which is in need of repair, rebuilding and refurbishment? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that it is to be hoped that, during that visit, the Prime Minister will display the same generosity in the provision of money to pay for repairing those houses as he has displayed towards Windsor castle, bearing in mind the fact that the tenants of those houses actually pay rent and taxes and that everyone’s home is their castle?

    Mr. Newton : I have already commented on the indirect thrust of the hon. Gentleman’s question. With regard to help for Sheffield, the Government provided £26 million of assistance for projects associated with the student games.

     

    Engagements

    Q6. Mr. David Evans : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

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

    Mr. Evans : Will my right hon. Friend send a message to the Prime Minister saying that we on the Conservative Benches have total loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen– [Intervention.] and her Prime Minister?

    When will the Asylum Bill become law? Is my right hon. Friend aware that 28 people were arrested for having 70 false identity cards? We know that the lot opposite could not care less whether the number was 700, 7,000 or 70,000–“Let them all in,” they say–but the British people and I want to know when the Bill will be on the statute book.

    Mr. Newton : The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend’s supplementary question is that I shall take the greatest possible pleasure in communicating to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister my hon. Friend’s great declaration of loyalty and the support that it drew, I judged, from both sides of the House.

    The answer to the second part is that while I cannot give my hon. Friend an exact date, his question contained a message that I can also communicate to the Home Secretary, to urge him on in his efforts, and perhaps a message for Her Majesty’s Opposition in terms of the importance that is attached to the passage of that measure.

    Ms. Corston : Why has the Prime Minister, as President of the European Community, put Tory party unity before the needs of the EC in such a way that it has caused the French Trade Minister to describe the British presidency as the “most calamitous” that he had ever seen?

    Mr. Newton : It is clear that, as a result of his presidency of the European Community in the past few months, my right hon. Friend has played a crucial part in achieving the GATT settlement that is now in prospect.

     

    Q7. Sir Anthony Durant : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

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

    Sir Anthony Durant : Does my right hon. Friend agree that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister deserves our support and congratulations for what he has done on the GATT round and that that has been an important achievement for most of the world, including the underdeveloped territories? Does he further agree that it would be wrong for a small group of French farmers to hold up that vital agreement?

    Mr. Newton : My hon. Friend makes an important point. In congratulating my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, perhaps we should also recognise the contribution made by Mr. Andriessen, Mr. MacSharry from the Community, Mrs. Hills– [Interruption.] It is right that we should recognise that the part played by my right hon. Friend has contributed to the efforts of others in an important way, including those whom I mentioned and Mr. Madigan from the United States. We have ensured that that negotiation now has a chance to reach a conclusion. I share the hope that my hon. Friend has expressed that it will not be frustrated by people in whose overall interests that agreement is.

     

    Q8. Mr. Michael : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

    Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave some moments ago.

    Mr. Michael : Is the Lord President aware that the reply given to me yesterday shows that the level of aid to Somalia was less than during the years of bloody dictatorship under Siad Barre ? Will he undertake that the Government will at least restore total aid to the level of 1987 and meet Britain’s historical responsibility to the people of Somaliland in the north?

    Mr. Newton : I understand that the principal problem in Somalia is not the shortage of funds but the difficulty in distributing the aid that we are keen to provide. As the hon. Gentleman well knows, the aid budget for next year was effectively projected in the autumn statement.

  • Mr Major’s Commons Statement on the Birmingham European Council – 20 October 1992

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s statement in the House of Commons on the Birmingham European Council, made on 20th October 1992.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    The Prime Minister (Mr. John Major) : With permission, Madam Speaker, I shall make a statement about the European Council in Birmingham on Friday last. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I represented the United Kingdom.

    I should like to thank the city of Birmingham, its leaders and its people– [Interruption.]

    Madam Speaker : Order. I know that hon. Members who are leaving the Chamber have business elsewhere in the House. Will they leave quietly so that we can hear what the Prime Minister has to say?

    The Prime Minister : I should like to thank the city of Birmingham, its leaders and its people for the effectiveness and speed of their organisation of the European summit.

    Following the events in the financial markets a month ago, a number of EC member states asked for this meeting to help to restore confidence throughout the Community and to address the issues raised by the market turbulence. Amongst those concerns, clearly evident in the referendums in Denmark and France, was the unease that too many decisions were being taken centrally in Brussels. The summit conclusions on these and other issues are in the Library of the House.

    Let me deal first with economic and monetary co-operation. At Friday’s meeting we reaffirmed our commitment to pursue open market policies, to control budget deficits, and to reduce inflation. It was unanimously agreed that these are the basis for recovery and for the creation of new and lasting jobs here and in the Community as a whole.

    The European Council also reaffirmed the necessity of the work set in hand by Finance Ministers after the recent turmoil in the currency markets. It was agreed that the work will involve Finance Ministers, the Monetary Committee, Central Bank governors and the Commission. It will cover recent economic and financial developments in Europe and the implications of changes in the economic environment in recent years. In particular, it will look at the impact of the increasing size and sophistication of financial markets and greater capital liberalisation.

    One critical discussion concerned the negotiations for a general agreement on tariffs and trade Uruguay round settlement. Over the past two weeks, significant progress had been made between the Commission and the United States in all sectors of the negotiation. I asked Commissioner Andriessen to report to the European Council. At the end of our discussion, the Commission was given the authority to continue to negotiate with the intention of reaching a satisfactory conclusion within the next 10 weeks. Subsequently, further useful progress was made in talks in Canada over the weekend. A GATT settlement would make a vital contribution to recovery and would be very much in Britain’s interest. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, it would lead to an extra $200 billion in annual world output.

    In the Birmingham declaration we also took significant steps towards bringing the Community closer to ordinary people. The declaration agreed at Birmingham has a number of distinct elements. It recognises the importance of national identity. It acknowledges that the Community can act only where member states have given it the power to do so in the treaties. It lays down that action at the Community level should happen only when necessary. It calls for new guidelines, so that when Community action is taken it takes the lightest possible form. It introduces better consultation by the Commission before proposals are brought forward. It calls for a greater role for national Parliaments in the work of the Community.

    The declaration provides, for the first time, a proper framework for the practical definition and implementation of subsidiarity. We agreed that, at the Edinburgh European Council in two months’ time, we must make a reality of that principle. All members of the European Council agreed to take decisions at Edinburgh to make subsidiarity an integral part of future EC decision making. That change of attitude by the Council and the Commission is as important as the procedures and criteria to be introduced.

    Prime Minister Schluter of Denmark reported to the European Council on the present state of discussion on the Maastricht treaty within Denmark. The Danish Government have published a White Paper and will produce specific ideas shortly. It remains their aim to ratify the treaty, and we plan to set in place at Edinburgh the framework that will allow them to do so.

    The Birmingham Council also gave us an opportunity to review our action to relieve suffering in Somalia and Yugoslavia. The Community has given a lead in both countries. In Somalia we called for an immediate ceasefire to allow for the rapid deployment of United Nations troops and for the distribution of aid and agreed to try to expedite these deployments.

    In Yugoslavia, at British initiative, a Community humanitarian force will be established. It will support the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in delivering humanitarian aid. The Community will speed up aid already pledged, which includes 120,000 tonnes of food. We have invited the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to hold a meeting of experts as soon as possible to make sure that that aid gets through without delay. There will be a follow-up meeting in a few weeks’ time to ensure that effective action is being taken. Member states also pledged further staff and resources to strengthen the UNHCR effort. I can today announce a further £15 million of bilateral aid to provide 22 more trucks, 10 Land Rovers, shelter, medical supplies and personnel. Deliveries will start very shortly.

    A confident and successful Community is a vital interest of this country. Sixty per cent. of our visible trade is with the Community. Much of our external investment comes from the Community. Eight of our top 10 trading partners are in the Community. With less than three months to go to the completion of the single market, which could raise Community output by more than 4 per cent., it was vital to re-establish confidence in the interests of stability, recovery, growth and jobs in all our countries. The Birmingham European Council did precisely that.