Downing Street Says » 2006

» Monday, February 13, 2006

Chancellor’s Speech-Terrorism

Asked if it was fair to assume that the Treasury had co-ordinated the Chancellor's speech all with No10, and other departments, the PMOS said that it was perfectly natural that the Chancellor spoke up on these kinds of issues. The response to terrorism was not a matter that was limited to one department, but rather, was across Government. Equally, it was important that the public knew that the Government was united in implementing its manifesto commitments. That was what the Chancellor's speech was about.

Briefing took place at 15:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

Iran

Asked whether the Prime Minister would be calming America down about Iran and seeking more diplomacy, the PMOS said the Americans had stated their position. The White House spokesman had said explicitly, about a month ago, that Iran was not Iraq. The situations were different. People could look at the support America had given to the diplomatic efforts of the E3 (Britain, France and Germany). At the same time we were fully supportive of the view, not only of America but other world leaders such as Chancellor Merkel, that Iran had crossed a red line and failed its international obligations. Therefore the assumption in the question that America was in a different place from the rest of the world was undermined, not only by the views of others, but by the actions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which had passed by a very large majority that the matter be reported to the UN Security Council.

Briefing took place at 15:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Education Bill

Asked if the Bill was still due to published at the end of the month, or would it happen this week, the PMOS said the commitment was always to publish it before the end of the month, and debate it mid-March.
Asked if anything might happen during Recess, the PMOS said he thought that was unlikely.

Briefing took place at 15:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Iraq abuse

Asked for further information about the Prime Minister's trip to Berlin later in the week, the PMOS replied that the issues that people could expect to be covered in a meeting with Chancellor Merkel would be covered, such as the Middle East, Iran, Europe and the run up to the next Council as well.

Briefing took place at 15:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Smoking Vote

Asked if the Prime Minister was planning to vote on the Smoking Bill tomorrow, the PMOS said that as it was a free vote, traditionally, he did not comment on it, as it was up to MPs to make up their own minds.

Briefing took place at 15:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Reshuffle

Put that in the Observer yesterday, it was claimed that the Prime Minister had told friends that he did not feel strong enough to carry out a reshuffle, and was that recognised, the PMOS said he recognised a reshuffle question, no matter which way it was asked! The PMOS said the journalist would therefore get his traditional, or rather lack of it, response!

Briefing took place at 15:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

PLP

Put that as the Prime Minister was meant to be doing Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) tonight, was the Deputy Prime Minister stepping in instead, the PMOS replied that it was a matter for the Party.

Briefing took place at 15:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

» Thursday, February 9, 2006

Education

Asked if the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) was able to confirm the day when the Education Bill would be published next week, the PMOS replied he could not. What we had said all along was that it would probably be published before the end of February.

Briefing took place at 9:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Education

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) gave the journalists a preview of what the Prime Minister intended to say at the Education seminar today. He would say: "Today's seminar shows the growing interest in Trust schools from a range of schools and potential sponsors such as Microsoft, KPMG and BT. We know that schools that have a distinctive ethos do better, that was why we want schools to be free to set up trusts if they wish to. Trust schools bring together the freedoms of Foundations with the governance of voluntary aided schools, harnessing the enthusing of external partners we have already seen with specialist schools and Academies. Trust schools can address failing and underperforming schools in new ways, that will benefit the most disadvantaged in society."

Briefing took place at 9:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

CSA

Asked if it would be fair to assume that the CSA would be rebranded and have a new name after the latest review, the PMOS said that the question was a legitimate one, but people would have to wait until Mr. Henshaw had done his job. What we had said was that this was a blank page, and Mr. Henshaw had been asked to design the system that we needed to address the problem. People then worked backwards from that to work out what the implications were for the CSA. As John Hutton had said, this was not a problem about the staff at the CSA, but rather, it was about designing a system that was fit for the purpose. Unfortunately, the system we had at the moment was not fit.

Briefing took place at 9:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

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» Monday, February 13, 2006

Chancellor’s Speech-Terrorism

Iran

Education Bill

Iraq abuse

Smoking Vote

Reshuffle

PLP

» Thursday, February 9, 2006

Education

Education

CSA

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