Downing Street Says » 2005 » January

» Friday, January 14, 2005

Tsunami Victim Update

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) updated journalists with the latest tsunami victim numbers which were: 400 presumed to be victims, of which 51 confirmed dead (down from 403) and 568 missing (down from 582).

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

Holocaust Memorial Day

The PMOS confirmed that the Prime Minister would be attending the National Commemoration at Westminster Hall at the end of January for Holocaust Memorial Day.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Auschwitz Visit

Asked why Jack Straw was not attending the memorial at Auschwitz, the PMOS advised the journalist to speak to the Foreign Office.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Senator Kerry

Asked what the Prime Minister's meeting with Senator Kerry would be about, the PMOS said that not only would they be able to compare notes on their recent respective trip to the Middle East, but also Senator Kerry remained a very influential Senator and it was important to keep in touch. They would talk about a wide range of issues.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

24-Hour Licensing Law

Asked if the Government was looking at the option of an alcohol levy, the PMOS replied that Charles Clark had met with ACPO and Chris Fox this week to talk about the issues surrounding the Licensing Act and the issues of resourcing. The PMOS stressed again the premise of the Licensing Act was about the concern expressed by police and others about a fixed turning out time, and the effect it was having on local communities and policing resources. What was important was that the licensing authorities, the police and the government all talked about how we coordinated closing times in a way that made sense locally. What also needed to be targeted was the problem of binge drinking. The Government and the police both agreed that those were the key issues.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (6)

Crime Fines

Asked if the Government thought that people who earned more might feel "put out that they paid more in fines than some 'scrope' who earned less but did more crime", the PMOS said it was an interesting smear on people! The idea of varying fines according to income was a fact at the moment anyway, so the principle was not new. What it was doing was providing a clearer statutory explanation. The principle of fines was that they acted as a deterrent to future wrongdoing. It made sense, and judges already had this ability, to vary the fine according to income level. If someone who earned £10,000 was fined £200, that obviously was more of a deterrent than it would be for someone who earned £50,000.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Prime Minister

Asked how the Prime Minister could afford an £11,000 mortgage, the PMOS said that it was well known that we did not comment at all on the Prime Minister's private life.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

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