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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 18 July 1995

PRIME MINISTER

Ministerial Visits

10. Mr. Dunn: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Dartford.     [33187]

The Prime Minister: I have at present no plans to do so.

Cabinet Committees

Dr. Twinn: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has any plans to change the current membership and terms of reference of Cabinet Committees.     [36165]

The Prime Minister: I have decided to make a number of changes designed to streamline the current structure and rationalise the arrangement for discussion of policy issues into a smaller number of Committees with wide terms of reference. The full list of Cabinet Committees, including membership and terms of reference, is listed as follows:

Ministerial Committee on Economic and Domestic Policy (EDP) Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)

Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Secretary of State for the Home Department

President of the Board of Trade

Lord President of the Council

Secretary of State for the Environment

Chief Secretary, Treasury

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Secretary of State for Education and Employment

Minister without Portfolio

Secretary of State for Scotland

Secretary of State for Wales

Other Ministers are invited to attend for items in which they have a departmental interest.

Terms of reference

"To consider strategic issues relating to the Government's economic and domestic policies"

Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy (OPD) Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)

Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Secretary of State for the Home Department

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs President of the Board of Trade

Secretary of State for Defence

Attorney General

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The Lord Privy Seal and the Lord President also receive papers and they and other Ministers may be invited to attend as necessary. The Chief of Defence Staff will attend as required, as will the Chiefs of Staff when necessary.

Others, including the Governor of Hong Kong and the British Ambassador in Peking may be invited to attend as appropriate. Terms of Reference

"To keep under review the Government's defence and overseas policy."

Ministerial Committee on Nuclear Defence Policy (OPDN)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)

First Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary of State for Defence

Terms of Reference

"To keep under review the Government's policy on nuclear defence."

Ministerial Committee on Northern Ireland (NI)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)

Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Secretary of State for the Home Department

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Lord Privy Seal

Secretary of State for Defence

Attorney General

The Minister without Portfolio receives papers.

Other Ministers are invited to attend as the nature of the business requires.

Terms of Reference

"To oversee the Government's policy on Northern Ireland issues and relations with the Republic of Ireland on these matters." Ministerial Committee on the Intelligence Services (IS) Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)

Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Secretary of State for the Home Department

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary of State for Defence

The Lord President of the Council and the Attorney General may be invited to attend as appropriate.

Terms of reference

"To keep under review policy on the security and intelligence services."

Ministerial Committee on Competitiveness (EDC)

Composition

Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State (Chairman) Chancellor of the Exchequer

Secretary of State for the Home Department

President of the Board of Trade

Lord President of the Council

Secretary of State for the Environment

Secretary of State for Social Security

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Chief Secretary, Treasury

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Secretary of State for National Heritage

Secretary of State for Education and Employment

Minister without Portfolio

Secretary of State for Health

Lord Privy Seal

Secretary of State for Transport

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Secretary of State for Scotland

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Secretary of State for Wales

Other Ministers are invited to attend for items in which they have a departmental interest.

The Chief Scientific Adviser attends for issues relating to science and technology.

Terms of reference

"To consider issues affecting the UK's competitiveness, and other industrial, commercial, consumer, competition and regeneration policies; policy on science and technology; the pace of deregulation; and the handling of public sector pay."

Ministerial Committee on the Coordination and Presentation of Government Policy (EDCP)

Composition

Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State (Chairman) Lord President of the Council

Minister without Portfolio

Lord Privy Seal

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury

Other Ministers will be invited to attend when necessary. Terms of reference

"To consider the coordination and presentation of Government policy."

Ministerial Committee on the Environment (EDE)

Composition

Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State (Chairman) Chancellor of the Exchequer

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs President of the Board of Trade

Lord President of the Council

Secretary of State for the Environment

Chief Secretary, Treasury

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Secretary of State for National Heritage

Secretary of State for Health

Lord Privy Seal

Secretary of State for Transport

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Secretary of State for Scotland

Secretary of State for Wales

The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

Terms of reference

"To consider questions of environmental policy."

Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs (EDH)

Composition

Lord President of the Council (Chairman)

Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State

Lord Chancellor

Chancellor of the Exchequer

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