Downing Street Says » 2004

» Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Unemployment Figures

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that today's figures showed that unemployment was at a thirty year low. This meant the UK had the highest employment rate in the G7. Unemployment was approximately half that of Germany and France and long-term youth unemployment was virtually eradicated. One person had got a job every two minutes since may 1997.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (19)

Alan Budd Inquiry

Asked if there was any more information available about the Budd inquiry the PMOS said, as he had yesterday, that it was his hunch that the Budd inquiry would come next week, that remained his hunch, but the timing of the report remained a matter for the Budd Inquiry. Asked if there was any possibility of further guidance the PMOS said that we did not want to do anything that made things not look like the reality, which was that we did not want to pressurize Sir Alan in any way. We wanted Alan Budd to decide the timing, the content and his modus operandi as such it would be wrong for the Government to be doing anything that pre-empted that in a any way.

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

David Blunkett

In response to the suggestion that there now seemed to be questions surrounding David Blunkett's state of mind following his singing at the PLP meeting the PMOS said that the Prime Minister still had absolute confidence in the Home Secretary and that if there were a ban on singing we would all be in trouble.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (5)

Mental Capacity Bill

Asked if the PMOS could explain what would happen next with the Mental Capacity Bill and the feeling about how it was handled the PMOS said he would like to make a more general point first. People recognised, as was reflected in some of yesterday's broadcast coverage, that this was a serious issue in which people did have a range of opinions. There was a need for clarification. The voices that we heard from yesterday, such as patients and leading charities, actually reflected the issues the Bill was trying to address. There were also concerns raised by the Catholic Church and others about the nature of this Bill and the Government felt it was right to address what we believed to be misconceptions about the Bill. This was what was going on yesterday, as encapsulated in the exchange of letters between the Lord Chancellor and the Archbishop of Cardiff. It was always difficult in circumstances where you had a fluid situation in a Parliamentary occasion that went for a set time and was not fluid. Therefore the Minister concerned was obviously operating in a difficult environment, one which when you were in this seat you had a certain sympathy for. As to what would happen next the assurances given by The Lord Chancellor would obviously be reflected in the amendments given in the House of Lords.

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

» Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Northern Ireland

Asked what the Prime Minister had said to Ian Paisley, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) told journalists that as with yesterday the reason for the meetings this week was to find out where we were following last week's events. It was also to emphasize that we still wanted to push things forward, because we were in a situation where, whether we liked it or not, the two parties wouldn't talk to each other. The Government was in the position of intermediary. Asked if the Prime Minister would suggest a meeting with Gerry Adams to Ian Paisley, the PMOS said it was a matter for Ian Paisley. We could not force people to meet. Other parties did meet with Sinn Fein. We meet with Sinn Fein. It was up to Ian Paisley to decide. In the mean time we would have to act as intermediary. Frustrating as that was.

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

Living Wills

Asked for the Prime Minister's view on the issues of living wills and Euthanasia, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister supported the Government's position. That position was that this legislation was not about Euthanasia, this was about clarifying the situation so that the current practice was codified. We did not believe that this extended the law but it did formalise what already happened. The Government's position was supported by many of the 35 leading charities in this field. The Government had responded seriously, and recognised that there were disagreements about the decision. That was why we had moved to clarify the position, but it was a position the Government believed was right. Asked what the Prime Minister's response was to the shambles in the Commons and the lamentable performance of the minister concerned, the PMOS said that the PM have been involved in other meetings, but it was not unusual for points of clarification to be introduced on to the floor of the House.

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

David Blunkett

Put to him that David Blunkett had blamed departmental inertia for preventing him from passing legislation on gang-masters, which might have prevented the deaths of 21 cockle pickers at Morecambe Bay, the PMOS said that part of the normal process of government on issues that cut across departments, was that when one department put forward a proposal, it got scrutinized by other departments to make sure it worked That was how you reached a consensus on the best way forward. In this case the consensus settled on supporting the private member's bill, the Sheridan Bill, which the Government had supported. It was a process which was part of government since government began. It was perfectly natural that different departments would on occasion have different views, because they looked at things from their own angle. Questioned further, the PMOS said that the ins and outs of this issue had been gone over at the time after the tragic deaths in Morecambe Bay, it was important to recognise that David Blunkett had not accused anyone of contributing to the 21 deaths. It was right that departments aired difficulties they had with proposed legislation.

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

Sports Fund

Asked if the £500 million allocated for extending sport was new money, or was it out of existing pot, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said the journalist should ask the DCMS for further details regarding funding. What was important, however, was what it would achieve was a major extension of sport in schools.

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

Captain Warwick Strong

Asked if Captain Warwick Strong's passport issues that had been highlighted in the media had been resolved, the PMOS said the department was aware of the situation, and he was sure there would be a common sense solution, but he could not comment on an individual case.

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

High Court/Baha Mousa case

Asked about the ruling by the High Court for the Government to hold an inquiry into the death of Iraqi Baha Mousa, the PMOS pointed out that the Government had won 5 out of the 6 cases. He also said that a separate criminal case was being considered by the Army Prosecution Authority, and therefore could not comment further for obvious legal reasons.

Asked if the Government took the same "scathing" view as the judges that Iraq was not yet ready to have the European Convention on Human Rights applied, the PMOS asked the journalist if he really expected him to comment on a current court case that may go to appeal.

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

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» Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Unemployment Figures

Alan Budd Inquiry

David Blunkett

Mental Capacity Bill

» Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Northern Ireland

Living Wills

David Blunkett

Sports Fund

Captain Warwick Strong

High Court/Baha Mousa case

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