Downing Street Says ... Every day the Prime Minister’s Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as ‘the lobby’ for a topical chat, or ‘briefing’.

Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'.

Downing Street Says... is an unofficial site that lets you read summaries of these briefings and add your own comments. Want to know more?

» Thursday, September 13, 2012

Greg Barker

Asked whether the Cabinet Secretary looked at Greg Barker’s relationship with an advisor to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) after it was raised in the House of Commons, the PMS said that the issue had been looked at by the Cabinet Secretary and the Permanent Secretary of DECC. It was raised about […]

Europe

Asked whether the Government was looking at staging a referendum on the new EU proposals put forward by President Barroso, the PMS said that President Barroso had been talking about actions that the EU needed to take to restore stability including measures to improve the competitiveness of the European economy. On the issue of a […]

Europe

Press briefing morning 13 September 2012

Thursday 13 September 2012 BAE merger, Hillsborough, migration figures, universal credits, economic issues, Middle East were discussed at this press briefing

Merger Talks between BAE Systems and EADS

Asked about the talks of a merger between BAE Systems and EADS, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that it was a commercial matter which was market sensitive and that the Department for Business had issued a statement yesterday setting out our position. Asked about the Prime Minister’s involvement, the PMOS confirmed that the […]

Hillsborough Panel Report

Asked whether the Prime Minister had any view on calls to remove the Knighthood from Sir Irvine Patnick, the PMOS said that was a matter for the forfeiture committee. It was for the chair of that committee to decide whether the committee should investigate specific cases. In response to further questions, he said that there […]

Migration – ONS

Asked whether students should be included in migration statistics, the PMOS said that this was a matter for the Office for National Statistics. He explained that the ONS published a figure for net migration, which included students, but they also produced a breakdown.

Universal Credits

Asked about the universal credits policy, the PMOS said that it was a very important project for this Government and significant resource was going into making sure that it was implemented effectively.

Liam Fox

Asked about the reports of comments by Laim Fox on economic issues, the PMOS said that tax was a matter for the Chancellor, and that on the issue of benefits for wealthier pensioners such as free TV licenses, there was a clear commitment in the Coalition Agreement.

Middle East

Asked about violence in the Middle East, the PMOS said that the Government was concerned about the violence and that the PM had sent a letter to President Obama yesterday expressing his condolences following the attack on United States officials in Benghazi. He said that the safety of British diplomatic staff in the region, was […]

» Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Press briefing afternoon 12 September 2012

Wednesday 12 September 2012 The Eurozone, advisors, national debt, Hillsborough, embassy security and Scotland were discussed at this press briefing

Eurozone

Asked what the PM’s view on President Barroso’s State of the Union address was, the PMS said that the Government shared much of President Barroso’s analysis on the challenges facing the EU and the roots of the crisis. The Government agrees that there needs to be urgent action to deal with these issues, the most […]

Greg Barker

Asked when the PM had asked the Cabinet Secretary to look into Greg Barker’s relationships with advisors to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the PMS said that the PM had been clear that the issue had been investigated by the Cabinet Secretary.

National Debt

Asked whether it was still the Government’s target that national debt as a proportion of GDP will fall by 2015/16, the PMS said that the Government is committed to its fiscal policy which is delivering a reduction in the deficit and credibility in the markets. That means we are able to make further reforms for […]

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» Thursday, September 13, 2012

Greg Barker

Europe

Europe

Press briefing morning 13 September 2012

Merger Talks between BAE Systems and EADS

Hillsborough Panel Report

Migration – ONS

Universal Credits

Liam Fox

Middle East

» Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Press briefing afternoon 12 September 2012

Eurozone

Greg Barker

National Debt

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