Downing Street Says

Asked which businesses in Scotland had voiced concerns about the country’s economic stability, the PMS replied that he would not provide names of companies involved in private conversations. The PMS pointed the assembled media to a report by Citigroup published in November which urged potential investors in Scotland’s renewables industry to exercise extreme caution in committing further capital to Scotland .

Put that if names could not be given then sectors could perhaps be named, the PMS said that the report made specific comments about renewables, an area where Scotland was strong because of its geography and coastline.

Put that people disputed that businesses were uncertain, the PMS said that businesses in general didn’t like uncertainty. He reminded the assembled media that energy companies made long term investment decisions, which was particularly affected by uncertainty.

Asked if the situation in Scotland was any different to the uncertainty of a General Election, the PMS said there were lots of unanswered questions about what independence would mean, for example, would Scotland keep the pound or join the euro, would monetary policing be set by the Bank of England. The PMS said that these were questions for the Scottish Government but in the absence of answers to these questions there was uncertainty.

Asked why Michael Moore would be delivering the statement if the Chancellor was in charge of discussions, the PMS said one would expect Michael Moore to make the statement.

Asked why Michael Moore didn’t lead the discussions, the PMS said he did and had done jointly with the Chancellor in Cabinet. Ministerial committees were usually chaired by senior government ministers.

Asked if Government would be publishing legal advice, the PMS said that it would set out its legal view.

Put that the Government had suggested a date for a Referendum, the PMS said that clearly any decision about the future of Scotland was a matter for the Scottish people but the Government thought the process should be legal, fair and decisive.

Put that this was a contradiction, the PMS said that was not the case. A number of people had highlighted the fact that a Referendum Bill passed by the Scottish Parliament would be open to legal challenge in the courts and it was the Government’s view that this should be decided by Parliaments and not by the courts.

Put that it appeared that the Government was in disarray, the PMS denied this and said details had not even been published yet.

Asked if the PM planned to visit Scotland, the PMS said details of the PM’s travel would be given to media in the usual way. He confirmed that the last visit had been in October.

Asked if the Chancellor was expected to defend the union, the PMS said all ministers would do so that was the government’s policy. The next step in the process was to set out our proposals on a referendum, which would happen that afternoon.

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» Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Scotland

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