Downing Street Says » 2005

» Wednesday, July 6, 2005

Louise Casey

Asked about remarks made by the head of the anti-social behaviour unit, Louise Casey, which were critical of Government policy, the Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) said that the Home Office were looking into the remarks she had made. As a Civil Servant she was subject to a code of conduct. Asked about what the Prime Minister thought about the remarks, the PMS said that the Prime Minister's high regard for Louise Casey was well known, based on her record of achievement in the posts she had held. Asked what that record was, the PMS said that for example she had worked in the rough sleepers unit where the figures now showed a record low. Rough sleepers were down 70% from 1,850 in 1998 to 508 last year. Asked what else she had done to have earned such a high regard from the Prime Minister, the PMS said that the anti-social behaviour unit was doing a huge amount of work as a cross departmental issue. Asked why she reported directly to the Prime Minister, the PMS said that it was a cross-departmental issue. All channels of communication had been checked with the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister and it was perfectly normal for her to report to both of them on such an important issue which covered a lot of departments.

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

Olympics

Asked what the Prime Minister thought of our Olympic presentation, the PMS said that he obviously thought it had been excellent having been in Singapore for the last two days he had seen at close hand the excellent work that had been put together by our bid team. Now he, like everyone else, would await the result.

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

» Tuesday, July 5, 2005

FOI Timing

Asked if the Government was still happy that the drugs report that was released at 1745 on Friday was released in "the right way", the (PMS) said that the reports released were Freedom of Information announcements, and not news announcements. They were responses to individual requests which were then made available to everyone afterwards.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

ID Cards

Asked if the Prime Minister agreed with other members of the Government that one of the authors of the LSE report on ID cards was so partial that it renders the report worthless, the Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) said that the Home Office had already set out their view of the report last week. The Government had carried out its own research which showed there was 70% support for ID cards. That research had been carried out last week when people were well aware of the costs and had been in the context of a 45 minute discussion of the issue, rather than simply answering one question.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (3)

Tax Credits

Asked if the Government was content to leave the current Tax Credits system as it was, the PMS said she wasn't aware of any plans to change it and referred journalists to the Treasury.

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

President Chirac

Asked to characterise the state of Anglo-French relations given President Chirac's comments about British cuisine, the PMS said that they were the same as they had been yesterday. We continued to have good relations with the French.

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

Haggis

Asked if the Prime Minister was looking forward to eating haggis at the G8 summit in Scotland, the PMS said she was not aware that haggis was actually on the menu. Asked what the Prime Minister thought of British cuisine, the PMS said that he ate it on a regular basis. Asked if he enjoyed French cuisine, the PMS said she was sure he did. Asked finally if the Prime Minister enjoyed Finnish cuisine, the PMS said that she was not aware of any Finnish restaurants in London.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (2)

» Monday, July 4, 2005

G8

Asked why the Prime Minister had not mentioned the G8 today, considering Live 8 had just occurred, and was this a "slap in the face" the PMS said the Prime Minister had spent a lot of time over the past weeks and months talking about the G8 and the important issues that were coming up. The Prime Minister was in Singapore today promoting the Olympic bid for London, and that seemed entirely appropriate. The Prime Minister was entirely focused on what was to happen later in the week. It was not a question of ignoring it, or giving it "a slap in the face", as the Prime Minister was completely focused on both events, but today he was concentrating on the events of the IOC.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

President Chirac

Asked for any reaction to President Chirac's recent comments that the only thing we had given to European agriculture was Mad Cow Disease, the PMS said there were some things better not to be commented on.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Teenagers/Weapons

Asked about findings which suggested that 1 in 10 teenagers had at some time been in possession of a knife or gun, the Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) said that journalists should look at the context of the report. As she understood it the report was unpublished and had been leaked a few weeks ago. We did not comment on leaked documents. The PMS referred journalists to the Home Office for information on the Violent Crime Bill which included measures to help schools, the community and the Police deal with people carrying knives and guns.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (8)

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» Wednesday, July 6, 2005

Louise Casey

Olympics

» Tuesday, July 5, 2005

FOI Timing

ID Cards

Tax Credits

President Chirac

Haggis

» Monday, July 4, 2005

G8

President Chirac

Teenagers/Weapons

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