Michael Heseltine Biography and Timeline — Page 3

South Atlantic Military Presence

Answers a parliamentary question on the continuing British military presence in the South Atlantic.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Nuclear Weapons Publicity

Answers a parliamentary question concerning Government publicity on nuclear weapons.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Cruise Missile Dual-key Costs

Answers Commons questions on the estimated cost of a British dual-key control arrangement for cruise missiles.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Intermediate Nuclear Forces

Leads for the Government in Commons debate on intermediate nuclear forces and NATO policy.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Cruise Missile Deployment Statement

Makes a Commons statement on preparations for operational deployment of cruise missiles at RAF Greenham Common.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Battlefield Nuclear Weapons

Addresses Commons questions concerning battlefield nuclear weapons.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

NATO Defence Policy

Addresses Commons questions concerning NATO defence policy.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Trident Programme

Takes ministerial responsibility for defence policy during the Trident procurement programme.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Falklands Defence Review

Reviews the post-war defence posture for the Falkland Islands as Secretary of State for Defence.

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1983-1986

Ordnance Factories and Military Services Bill

Takes part in Commons proceedings on the Ordnance Factories and Military Services Bill.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Cruise Missile Policy

Defends Government cruise-missile policy during Commons questioning.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Defence Estimates

Answers a parliamentary question concerning the Statement on the Defence Estimates.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Ministry of Defence Organisation

Makes and defends proposals concerning organisation of the Ministry of Defence.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Defence Expenditure

Addresses Commons questions on defence expenditure.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Falkland Islands Defence

Addresses Commons questions concerning defence of the Falkland Islands.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Trident Programme

Addresses Commons questions concerning the Trident programme.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Territorial Army Expansion

Announces a further phase of plans to expand and reorganise the Territorial Army.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Trident Submarines

Oversees defence policy while planning proceeds for the Vanguard-class submarines intended to carry Trident missiles.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Frigate Orders

Addresses Commons questions concerning orders for Royal Navy frigates.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Chemical Weapons

Addresses Commons questions concerning chemical weapons and arms-control policy.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Trident Deterrent

Defends the Trident programme during Commons questioning.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

RAF Molesworth

Makes and defends Government policy concerning RAF Molesworth.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

General Belgrano

Takes part in a major Commons debate concerning the sinking of the General Belgrano during the Falklands War.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

European Fighter Aircraft

Addresses Commons questions on the European Fighter Aircraft programme.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Strategic Defence Initiative

Addresses Commons questions on British policy toward the United States Strategic Defence Initiative.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Trident Programme

Defends Trident as the planned successor to Polaris in Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Resignation of Michael Heseltine

Announces his resignation after walking out of a Cabinet meeting during the Westland dispute.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Westland Crisis

Resigns from the Cabinet during the Westland helicopter crisis.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1986

Election

Announces his challenge for the leadership of the Conservative Party.

Role range: 1979-1990

Election

In the first Conservative leadership ballot Thatcher receives 204 votes and Heseltine 152, forcing a second ballot under the party rules.

Role range: 1979-1990

Britain at the European Core

Argues during the Conservative leadership contest that Britain should remain part of the core of European political and economic cooperation.

Election

In the second leadership ballot Major receives 185 votes, Heseltine 131 and Hurd 56; Heseltine and Hurd then withdraw.

Role range: 1979-1990

Appointment

Appointed Secretary of State for Environment for a second term.

Role range: 1990-1997 – 1990-1992

Community Charge Fundamental Review

Leads the new Major government's fundamental review of the community charge and its relationship with local-government structure and finance.

Role range: 1990-1997 – 1990-1992

Local Government Finance England

Leads extensive Commons questioning on local-government finance in England.

Role range: 1990-1997 – 1990-1992

Gulf Oil Pollution

Addresses the Commons on environmental damage and oil pollution arising from the Gulf conflict.

Role range: 1990-1997 – 1990-1992

Local Government Finance Review

Addresses Commons questions on reform of local-government finance.

Role range: 1990-1997 – 1990-1992

Energy Efficiency

Answers a parliamentary question concerning energy-efficiency policy.

Role range: 1990-1997 – 1990-1992

Community Charge Consultation

Meets local-authority associations and opposition parties while considering alternatives to the existing community-charge system.

Role range: 1990-1997 – 1990-1992

Poll Tax Abolition Debate

Takes part in a Commons debate specifically addressing abolition of the community charge.

Role range: 1990-1997 – 1990-1992