Downing Street Says » 2004

» Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Northern Ireland

Asked if the discovery of another listening device in an office belonging to Sinn Fein would have an impact on the talks at Leeds Castle which were due to begin on Thursday, the PMOS said that it wasn't our practice to comment on such matters. The Leeds Castle talks related to issues which the Prime Minister had identified two years ago, namely decommissioning, an end to paramilitarism and a complete commitment to power-sharing in that environment.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (2)

PM’s Environment Speech

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) briefed journalists on the Prime Minister's speech on the environment which he was due to deliver at an event this evening. He said that the speech would refer to some of the measures which we had already taken - and would continue to take - on the domestic front. However, the Prime Minister would not go into so much detail partly because it would be the focus of DEFRA's five year plan which was due to be published later this year, but also because the main rationale of today's speech was the Prime Minister's view that while "domestic action is important, a problem that is global in cause and scope can only be fully addressed through international agreement......It is hugely important that our efforts to stabilise the climate are based on global agreement". In trying to reach such a consensus, he would say that it was the richest countries which were the main contributors to the problem, but it was the poorest countries which suffered most from severe weather events, such as longer and hotter droughts and rising ocean levels. The onus, therefore, was on the former to solve the problem. That was why we had made climate change the focal point of our G8 Presidency next year, in addition to Africa. The Prime Minister would take the opportunity to outline three objectives this evening to tackle this problem. Firstly, to obtain an agreement on the basic science on climate change and the threat it posed. Such an agreement would be new and would provide the foundation for further action. Secondly, to obtain agreement on a process to identify the science and technology measures necessary to meet the threat. Thirdly, the involvement of nations beyond the G8, particularly China and India (but not exclusively them) who will also be crucial in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Given the different positions of the G8 nations on this issue, such an agreement would be a major advance - and in the Prime Minister's view it was achievable. As preparatory work for such a deal, he would also announce that, prior to the G8 meeting itself, we were proposing to hold an international scientific meeting at the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research in Exeter in February next year.

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

» Monday, September 13, 2004

Fathers’ Rights

Asked for a reaction to this afternoon's demonstration at Buckingham Palace by Fathers 4 Justice, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said everyone would accept that the issue of fathers' rights was very difficult and complex. Clearly, it involved strong emotions and huge sensitivities and it therefore had to be handled in a sensitive way. In the Government's view, the child's interests were paramount. Thus, where it was safe to do so, children should have contact with both their parents. The dilemma arose when such a situation was deemed to be impossible or was not happening for whatever reason. That was why the Government had been talking to all those involved in the issue, including Fathers 4 Justice. As we had always made clear, we did not believe that demonstrations like the one today helped to address the full complexity of the problem. Asked if he thought such protests tarnished the case, the PMOS said that that was for others to judge. That said, given the full complexity of this issue, it could not be reduced to random events. It had to be considered in the round. In our view it was a matter for thoughtful dialogue. We believed that these issues were best addressed through facilitation between the former partners. We recognised that there were huge difficulties when that did not occur, but such an option had to be carefully considered, not dealt with by events like the one today.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (85)

Pensions

Asked if the Prime Minister would accept the 'widespread characterisation' of the UK's pensions industry being 'in crisis' and the gap in provision having 'exploded' during his term in office, the PMOS said that this was a problem which was being confronted internationally, as well as in the UK, because of a huge range of factors. It was therefore important to approach it in two ways: firstly by dealing with the immediate issues, as we were doing through the Pension Bill which had set up the Pension Protection Fund which would guarantee protection if a company went bust. We had also set aside £400m for the Financial Assistance Scheme to help those who had already suffered from this problem. However, it was also important to address the longer term issues, as we were doing through the Pensions Commission, under the chairmanship of Adair Turner. The Commission was due to report its findings in the autumn. After that we would be able to have a sensible debate looking at the issue in the round, rather than turn the whole thing into some sort of blame game.

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

Fox Hunting

Asked if the motion on a two-year delay would be amendable and subject to a free vote, the PMOS said that the Hunting Bill would be before the House on Wednesday and he would discuss the issue in more detail then. As we had said consistently, the whole issue of fox hunting would be a matter for a free vote and the Prime Minister believed that Parliament should deal with it in that spirit. Asked if he was indicating that both a fox hunting ban and when that ban might come into force would be subject to free votes, the PMOS said yes.

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

PM’s TUC Speech

Questioned about the Prime Minister's speech to the TUC annual conference this afternoon, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that as had already been reported, the Prime Minister would focus on general themes such as working in partnership with the trade unions, in addition to issues that were of a more political nature.

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

Pensions

Asked for a reaction to today's Times report suggesting that taxpayers would have to pay more in National Insurance in order to fund bigger state pensions, the PMOS said that the Pensions Commission, under the chairmanship of Adair Turner, was currently producing a report on pensions policy. It was therefore inevitable that the media would speculate on what its conclusions might be. However, until the report was actually published - it was due in the autumn - he did not think it would be helpful to get drawn into discussions about individual issues - and that should be taken neither as a confirmation or denial. On a more general point, it was important to recognise that the Government had addressed, and was addressing, both the immediate and longer term issues on pensions, which Governments worldwide were having to deal with. For example, under the terms of the Pensions Bill, a Pension Protection Fund was being set up to guarantee protection if a company went bust. We had also set aside £400m for the Financial Assistance Scheme to help those who were already victims of this problem. The Turner Commission was also looking at how to address the longer term pension issues and would publish its conclusions in the autumn.

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

Incapacity Benefit

Asked if there were any plans to change the Government's policy on incapacity benefit in the light of reports yesterday about people abusing the system, the PMOS cautioned journalists against getting too ahead of themselves. He pointed out that progress had already been made in stabilising the situation. Equally, it was also a matter of encouraging those claiming incapacity benefit to go back to work both for the sake of their own self esteem and their role in society, as well the wider economic picture.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (7)

Derek Scott

Questioned about Derek Scott's allegations concerning the relationship between the Prime Minister and the Chancellor as reported over the weekend, the PMOS said that he had no intention of commenting on Mr Scott's book. The people who wrote such tomes had their own PR machines to help shift sales. Put to him that Mr Scott's allegations merited a Downing Street comment inasmuch as they were coming from someone with special access to the Prime Minister, the PMOS said that, tempted as he might be, he had nothing further to say about this matter.

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

» Friday, September 10, 2004

Euro

Asked if the Chancellor had been suggesting in his FT article today that the under performance of the Eurozone meant that British membership of the single currency was 'off the radar' for the foreseeable future, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said no. It was important to see the Chancellor's remarks in the right context. Both he, the Prime Minister and other Government Ministers had long made clear the case for reform in Europe. That was, in part, why we were so pleased that the new European Commission and Commission President had committed themselves to the Lisbon agenda since reform was very important for the future of Europe. To read anything more into the Chancellor's words would be a mistake. Asked to explain how the European Commission could be committed to reform when its budget was due to rise by 30% - something which the Chancellor had called 'unacceptable', the PMOS said that he had been referring to the incoming Commission and the attitude of Commission President-elect Barroso in terms of pushing the reform agenda forward. We had made it clear in the past that we did not believe that the proposed budget increase was right. In our view, Europe had to live within the appropriate budget constraints. However, that had to be achieved at the same time as pushing forward the reform agenda, which would involve changes in areas such as CAP.

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

Original PMOS briefings are © Crown Copyright. Crown Copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland. Click-use licence number C02W0004089. Material is reproduced from the original 10 Downing Street source, but may not be the most up-to-date version of the briefings, which might be revised at the original source. Users should check with the original source in case of revisions. Comments are © Copyright contributors. Everything else is © Copyright Downing Street Says.

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» Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Northern Ireland

PM’s Environment Speech

» Monday, September 13, 2004

Fathers’ Rights

Pensions

Fox Hunting

PM’s TUC Speech

Pensions

Incapacity Benefit

Derek Scott

» Friday, September 10, 2004

Euro

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