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PRIME MINISTER
European Union (Non-co-operation)
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy not to relax the policy of non-co-operation with the EU and its institutions until the EU world-wide ban on exports of British beef has been lifted. [32181]
The Prime Minister: I made it clear in my statement of 21 May, Official Report, columns 99-101, that progress would not be possible in the intergovernmental conference or elsewhere until we had agreement on the lifting of the ban on beef derivatives--which we have now achieved--and a clear framework for the lifting of the wider ban.
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the membership of the group set up to oversee the policy of non-co-operation with the EU; how often it is planned that it should meet; and if he will make a statement. [31221]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 7 June 1996]: A committee meets regularly under my chairmanship to oversee the policy of non-co-operation. Members of the Committee include the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State for Agriculture. Other Ministers are invited as appropriate.
I welcome the decision taken by the Commission on 5 June to lift the ban on beef derivatives with effect from 10 June. We now need early progress on agreement on a framework to lift the wider ban.
Mr. Kirkwood:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions on which the United Kingdom has not co-operated with the European Union nations since he made his oral statement on 21 May, Official Report, columns 99-101; and if he will make a statement. [31222]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 7 June 1996]: I made it clear in my statement of 21 May, Official Report, columns 99-101, that we would not be able to agree decisions requiring unanimity until the ban on beef derivatives was lifted and we have an agreement on a framework for the lifting of the wider ban.
I welcome the decision taken by the Commission on 5 June to lift the ban on beef derivatives with effect from 10 June. We now need early progress on agreement on a framework to lift the wider ban.
Since my statement on 21 May we have withheld agreement on over 60 measures at various EC meetings.
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with Chancellor Kohl the health risk to Germans from (a) smoking tobacco and (b) eating British beef; and if he will instruct the United Kingdom representative to raise that issue at the European Court of Justice as evidence of discrimination against the United Kingdom. [32083]
The Prime Minister:
No. I have no plans to do so.
Sir Peter Tapsell:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 June. [31176]
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Mr. Harry Greenway:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 June.[31177]
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.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith) of 17 May, Official Report, column 720, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of co-ordination between Government Departments in respect of the issuing of public interest immunity certificates in relation to the Lockerbie case; and what factors underlay their issue. [32291]
The Prime Minister:
I understand that the interested Government Departments consulted with each other in connection with the signing of public interest immunity certificates by their respective Ministers. Public interest immunity was claimed in these certificates where the relevant Minister considered that it would be injurious to the public interest for particular matters to be the subject of evidence.
Mr. Byers:
To ask the Prime Minister on what dates in August 1991 he met in his official capacity Mr. T. T. Tsui at 10 Downing street; how many civil servants were present at the meeting; and what subjects were discussed. [32159]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 10 June 1996]: So far as I am aware, none.
Mr. Marlow:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will review the circumstances in which damages or compensation are payable to (a) the police and (b) other uniformed services. [31827]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 7 June 1996]: No. Where someone claims negligence, it is for the courts to decide whether damages are payable, taking into account all relevant circumstances, which will sometimes include the applicant's occupation.
Mr. Miller:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the total number of applications claiming post-transfer staff costs on behalf of research councils; and what was the total number of these that were awarded for each of the financial years 1990-91 to 1995-96; [31587]
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Mr. Ian Taylor:
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 18 March 1996, Official Report, columns 47-50, which contains schedules covering allocations to the research councils, the number of awards and a breakdown of the main components of these awards under various categories of cost. Information on the further breakdown of staff costs and numbers now sought could be obtained only through an analysis of paper records at a disproportionate cost to each of the six research councils.
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances his Department or its executive agencies uses an executive search or employment agency to recruit staff in preference to using personnel staff within his own Department or its executive agencies. [31529]
Mr. John M. Taylor:
This Department uses executive search agencies under the supervision of its personnel staff to help recruit staff to the senior civil service to improve the effectiveness of the DTI in meeting its objectives and to broaden the skills base at senior management levels. Such agencies work strictly in accordance with the code of practice drawn up by the civil service commissioners. Recruitment at other levels has been negligible.
Mr Meacher:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will write to FIFA and UEFA to urge them to investigate whether their officially licensed merchandise is produced by child labour. [32251]
Mr. John M. Taylor:
It is not my intention to do so.
Mr. Meacher:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will support the adoption of a code of conduct, using internationally recognised standards, for all manufacturers and sub-contractors of licensed products to ensure that products are not made by child labour. [31790]
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Mr. Nelson
[holding answer 10 June 1996]: The Government deplore any exploitation of children and we press all countries which have signed labour conventions to meet their obligations. It is for firms themselves to consider whether to operate according to a code of good practice. Some already do.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of after-market components for motor bikes (a) sold in the United Kingdom and (b) exported; and how many people are employed in the after-market component industry in the UK. [32197]
Mr. Eggar
[holding answer 10 June 1996]: There are no official figures available for this sector.
Mrs. Beckett:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the deficit in the United Kingdom trade in cars in real terms in each of the last four years; and what estimate he has made of future trends in the balance of trade. [32089]
Mr. Lang
[holding answer 10 June 1996]: The information requested is given in the table. The depressed level of consumer demand for cars in Europe has slowed improvements in the United Kingdom's balance of trade in cars. However, in the longer term, the decision by major manufacturers to expand production in the UK should boost exports.
(2) what was the total of staff costs awarded for pre-transfer and post-transfer staff groups involving research councils for each of the financial years 1990-91 to 1995-96; what was the breakdown of staff numbers by staff group; and if he will list those groups, supported as direct costs involving research councils for each of the financial years 1990-91 to 1995-96. [31586]
| Year | Deficit in trade in cars, at 1990 prices (£ billion) |
|---|---|
| 1992 | -1.9 |
| 1993 | -2.7 |
| 1994 | -2.4 |
| 1995 | -1.4 |
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