Engagements

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 13 March 1997.

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Photo of Mr Patrick Thompson Mr Patrick Thompson , Norwich North 12:00, 13 March 1997

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 13 March. [18555]

Photo of Mr John Major Mr John Major , Huntingdon

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

Photo of Mr Patrick Thompson Mr Patrick Thompson , Norwich North

Does my right hon. Friend deplore, as I do, the increasing tendency for Government policy to be discussed as a result of leaks in the media and elsewhere? Does he share my increasing concern about that trend?

Photo of Mr John Major Mr John Major , Huntingdon

I certainly do. It means that policies that are legitimately a matter for discussion in the House are often discussed and misunderstood before the details of the policies or the Select Committee report have been made public. That is damaging. I believe that the leaking of Select Committee reports, as happened last night, is an abuse of the procedures of the House. On that matter, I entirely share the views of my hon. Friend.

Photo of Mr Harry Barnes Mr Harry Barnes , North East Derbyshire

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 13 March. [18557]

Photo of Mr John Major Mr John Major , Huntingdon

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave some moments ago.

Photo of Mr Harry Barnes Mr Harry Barnes , North East Derbyshire

It is probably seven weeks to the general election. Will not many people get a shock to find that their names are not on electoral registers? Why cannot we be told how many people are on the electoral registers in England and Wales, which should have been available for a month, before the House dissolves for a general election?

Photo of Mr John Major Mr John Major , Huntingdon

As the hon. Gentleman knows, electoral registers are published at the appropriate time. I believe that when he raised the matter about three weeks ago I told him that the full count is likely to be available towards the end of March.