HC Deb 26 April 1999 vol 330 cc11-2W
Mr. Maclean

To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list the sources which enabled him to identify articles he had written for publication by the foreign media; and if he will make a statement on the means by which the use of these sources could be expanded; [81235]

(2) what is his estimate of the cost of keeping a record of articles written in his capacity as Prime Minister for publication by the foreign media; [81233]

(3) if he will estimate the man hours required by (a) his office and (b) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (i) to write articles for placement in the foreign media and (ii) to place those articles; and if he will estimate the time required for future recording of those articles for reference purposes; [81228]

(4) if he will list those points in his office at which records of where authorship and distribution of articles produced by him for publication by the foreign media could be maintained. [81234]

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) of 8 March 1999,Official Report, column 14, for what reason it would not be practicable to make systematic arrangements to place in the Library copies of articles which he writes for publication in overseas journals and newspapers. [80181]

The Prime Minister

I refer the right hon. Member and the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 3 February 1999,Official Report, columns 642-43; 26 February 1999, Official Report, column 474; 8 March 1999, Official Report, column 14; 22 March 1999, Official Report, column 8; and 31 March 1999, Official Report, column 718. It would involve disproportionate cost to identify, translate where necessary and record every such article that is published in the foreign media.