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.