PMQT Written Answers – 5 July 1993
Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 5th July 1993.
PRIME MINISTER:
No. 10 Downing Street
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister what charges are made for the use of 10 Downing Street for charitable or other fund-raising events; and what use is made of the catering and other facilities of 10 Downing Street at such events.
The Prime Minister : Where charitable or other non-official events are held at No. 10 Downing Street, the organisers are responsible for all catering and staff costs, as well as other miscellaneous direct costs. Organisers may use the kitchens or other facilities at No. 10 Downing Street.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister (1) what are the rules governing the use of No. 10 Downing Street for non-official purposes;
(2) if he will give details of the rules governing the use of 10 Downing Street for the purposes of fund raising for political parties.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 22 June 1993] : Ministers under this and previous administrations have been allowed–at their own or party expense–to host non-official or party receptions or functions in Downing street. All catering, staff and other direct expenses must be met by the organisers of the event. Appropriate arrangements are required for security clearance.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister how many functions to raise money for political parties have been held at No. 10 Downing Street since 1980.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 22 June 1993] : Under this and previous Administrations, a variety of functions have been held at No. 10 Downing Street where the costs have been met by political parties. The purpose of such functions is not a matter for the Government, but I can confirm that since November 1990, there have been no functions at 10 Downing Street at which funds have been raised for political parties, or for which tickets have been sold for the benefit of political parties.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister what charities benefited from functions organised in No. 10 Downing Street in each year since 1984.
The Prime Minister [holding answers 22 and 23 June 1993] : Since November 1990, there have been a total of 25 receptions, dinners or other functions at No. 10 Downing Street for charities or voluntary bodies. The organisations concerned have been :
NSPCC
Surrey County Cricket Club Youth Trust
Lords Taverners
MENCAP
Age Concern
EUREKA
Wordsworth Trust
Huntington’s Disease Association
Action Research
Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust
National Council of Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Crossroads Care
Animal Health Trust
ORT
Youth Clubs (UK)
ChildLine
Silver Trust
Marie Curie Cancer Care
Excalibur Scheme
Motability
Westminster Foundation for Democracy
London Community Cricket Association
International Spinal Research Trust
Cambridge Arts Theatre Trust – two functions
Mr. Asil Nadir
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister if he will give details of the functions attended by Mr. Asil Nadir in No. 10 Downing Street since 1984.
Mr. George Robertson : To ask the Prime Minister how many times in the last 10 years Mr. Asil Nadir has attended functions in No. 10 Downing Street.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 22 June 1993] : I understand that Mr. Nadir attended six functions in No. 10 Downing Street between 1984 and 1989. These were a dinner and a reception for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; a reception for the Harold Macmillan Trust; a lunch for the President of Turkey; and two lunches for industrialists.
Vietnam
Mr. Alton : To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise the issues of the extent of religious freedom in Vietnam, and the continued imprisonment of persons in that country for their faith, with the Prime Minister of Vietnam during his forthcoming visit.
The Prime Minister : I intend to raise our concerns about human rights in Vietnam with the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Mr. Vo Van Kiet, during his forthcoming visit to the United Kingdom.
Plaques
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Prime Minister if inscriptions on plaques which are unveiled in the course of visits by foreign Heads of State are viewed in advance by representatives of Her Majesty’s Government.
The Prime Minister : We would agree in advance any inscriptions on plaques unveiled at official engagements. We would not expect to be consulted about private engagements.
Republic of Ireland President
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Prime Minister if proposals by the person holding the position of President of the Irish Republic to visit the United Kingdom are communicated to Her Majesty’s Government by the office of the President of the Irish Republic.
The Prime Minister : Proposals for visits to the United Kingdom by the President of the Irish Republic are communicated to Her Majesty’s Government by the Government of the Irish Republic.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Prime Minister what information he receives from the office of the President of the Irish Republic on thanks received in respect of visits by the person holding the position of President of the Irish Republic.
The Prime Minister : None.
Heads of State
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the private visits to Northern Ireland by foreign Heads of State in each of the last three years.
The Prime Minister : The information is as follows :
16 December 1990 –President Robinson
4 February 1992 –President Robinson
22 May 1992 –President Robinson
6-7 September 1992 –President Robinson
18-19 June 1993 –President Robinson
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Prime Minister what criteria are used to distinguish between private and official visits to the United Kingdom by foreign Heads of State.
The Prime Minister : Official visits are those undertaken at the invitation of the British Government.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the public engagements which have been fulfilled by Heads of State during private visits to Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.
The Prime Minister : The information is as follows :
16 December 1990 – President Robinson attended the Installation of Archbishop Daly at Armagh and visited the Armagh Observatory.
4 February 1992 – President Robinson met women’s groups at the EOC Offices in Belfast; had lunch with the Law Society; met voluntary groups and cultural traditions groups in the Linenhall library; and attended a reception in Stormont castle.
22 May 1992 – President Robinson, as part of “Impact 92” in Londonderry, lunched with Church leaders, visited Foyle day care centre, opened “The Craft Village”, visited community groups, and attended a civic reception and pageant.
6-7 September 1992 – President Robinson attended the “Beyond Hate Conference” in Londonderry; opened Belcoo enterprise unit; lunched with Enniskillen Rotary; and met community groups in Enniskillen library.
18-19 June 1993 – President Robinson visited the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, Down museum, and West Belfast community groups; attended the Solicitors’ Association annual dinner; and visited Coalisland enterprise centre and Ballance house, Glenavy.
All the above visits were private. President Robinson attended each engagement at the invitation of the organisers.
Yugoslavia
Mr. Elletson : To ask the Prime Minister which of the undertakings given by the Federal Yugoslav Government at the London conference on 26 and 27 August 1992 have been fulfilled; what assessment he has made of changes in their policy and actions towards the crisis in the former Yugoslavia; what changes he considers to be still required; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : The London conference established principles and a negotiating structure as the basis for a settlement of the problems of the former Yugoslavia and set out specific steps to secure an effective and durable cessation of hostilities. The Yugoslav authorities have failed to co-operate satisfactorily with the efforts of the international community to achieve peace in Bosnia and to resolve the problems of minorities in Croatia and Serbia. The international community is committed to the rigorous enforcement of United Nations sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro until the conditions for their lifting have been met.
Mr. Elletson : To ask the Prime Minister when the question of sanctions against the Republic of Croatia was last considered by Her Majesty’s Government; and what plans he has to raise this matter again with the international community in the future.
The Prime Minister : Policy towards Croatia is regularly reviewed in the light of Croatian Government co-operation with the efforts of the international community both to ensure a peaceful resolution of the problems in the Krajinas and to achieve a lasting and equitable peace in Bosnia. Croatia was put on notice by the 8 June meeting of EC Foreign Ministers that restrictive measures would be initiated against Croatia if the situation so requires.
Mr. Elletson : To ask the Prime Minister to what extent the Croatian Government have complied with its obligations, as outlined in the London conference; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : The London conference established principles and a negotiating structure as the basis for a settlement of the problems of the former Yugoslavia and set out specific steps to secure an effective and durable cessation of hostilities. The Croatian Government are expected to do more to co-operate with efforts to achieve peace in Bosnia. Croatia was put on notice by the 8 June meeting of EC Foreign Ministers that restrictive measures would be initiated against Croatia if the situation so requires.
Mr. Elletson : To ask the Prime Minister which of the undertakings made by the Serbian Government at the London conference on 26 and 27 August 1992 have been fulfilled; to what extent there have been changes in their policy and actions towards the crisis in the former Yugoslavia; if he will list the changes still required; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : The London conference established principles and a negotiating structure as the basis for a settlement of the problems of the former Yugoslavia and set out specific steps to secure an effective and durable cessation of hostilities. The Belgrade leadership has failed to co-operate satisfactorily with the efforts of the international community to achieve peace in Bosnia and to resolve the problems of minorities in Croatia and Serbia. The international community is committed to the rigorous enforcement of United Nations sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro until the conditions for their lifting have been met.
Unemployment, Liverpool
Mr. Parry : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside and the deputation representing the unemployed in Liverpool.
The Prime Minister : I met the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside with a number of other people from the area on 16 June. I will be writing to him shortly about points raised at the meeting.
Mr. Shabir Shan and Mr. Yasin Malik
Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 27 May, Official Report, column 663, what further information he has received about the detention in India of Mr. Shabir Shah and Mr. Yasin Malik; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : Our high commission in New Delhi is in regular touch with the Indian Ministries concerned, but have received no further information on the cases of Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik since receiving the aide memoire from the Indian Home Ministry which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs forwarded to the hon. Gentleman under cover of his letter of 30 June.
Mr. Gazanfer Ali
Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 8 June, Official Report, column 226, what further information he has received about court proceedings in Pakistan relating to Mr. Gazanfer Ali; and if he make a statement.
The Prime Minister : My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs wrote to the hon. Member for Bradford, West on 24 June with information on the two cases involving murder charges against Mr. Gazanfer Ali. Both cases have been further adjourned.