Downing Street Says

The Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) informed journalists that Cabinet this morning included a discussion of the Draft Legislative Programme led by the Leader of the House, a report by the Home Secretary on the interim version of the Flanagan Review due to be published tomorrow, an update on Iraq from the Defence Secretary, and an update from the Chancellor on the economy and the Pre-Budget Report and Spending Review.

On the Flanagan Review, Sir Ronnie Flanagan former Chief Inspector of Constabulary was leading an independent review of the police service for the Home Secretary. The review was looking at the four key issues of how we reduce bureaucracy in the police, how we make progress on neighbourhood policing, how we ensure that there is sufficient local involvement and local accountability for policing, and finally how the police service can manage its resources effectively. The interim report would be published tomorrow, focusing in particular on recommendations on reducing bureaucracy and sustaining progress on neighbourhood policing. Phase two of the report will look at local involvement and resource management, with the final report to be produced by the end of 2007.

On Iraq, Des Browne updated the Cabinet on the situation in Iraq and the initial conclusions yesterday of the Petraeus Report. He reiterated, as the Prime Minister had made clear, that our position in relation to Iraq remained unchanged. We had ongoing obligations to the Iraqi Government and the United Nations, and we would fulfil those obligations. Secondly he emphasised that the approach being taken by the UK and the US was entirely consistent. And as General Petraeus made clear yesterday, and as we had been making clear throughout, for the both the UK and the US decisions on troop levels would be taken on the basis of an assessment of security conditions on the ground and the readiness of the Iraqi forces to take over security responsibility. He also reported that the handover of Basra Palace had been smooth and that the security
situation in Basra remained stable, as had been anticipated at the time of the handover.
The Prime Minister endorsed the Defence Secretary’s update and made clear that there were three main elements to our strategy on Iraq going forward. First the need to discharge our responsibilities on security, second the need to encourage the Iraqi Government to work towards political reconciliation, and third the need to ensure that the Iraqi people have a stake in their own future, which is why for example our proposals for economic reconstruction in Basra, including a new Basra Development Agency, were so important.

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» Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Cabinet

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