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» Monday, December 4, 2006

Trident

Asked when the official tender would be issued to build the next generation of submarines, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) explained that an initial discussion period would be followed by a vote early next year. Put to him that foreign shipyards might win these contracts, he said that while the Prime Minister had given a strong indication the Government hoped the new submarines would be built in this country, clearly the contracts would have to be put out to tender.

Briefing took place at 16:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Prime Minister’s Trip to Washington

Asked for further information about the Prime Minister's forthcoming trip to the US, and why was he going, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that the Prime Minister would see the President and some Congressional leaders.

Briefing took place at 16:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Litvinenko Case

Put that there had been reports over the weekend that there had been arguments in Cabinet about the diplomatic decisions that had been made versus the practicalities pursuing the police investigation, and what the Prime Minister's view on it all, the PMOS replied that the Prime Minister had clearly stated his view last week. That view was that no diplomatic or political consideration should stop the investigation going on where it needed to go. The PMOS said that he did not recognise the first part of the journalist's question as an accurate reflection in any way of the Cabinet meeting he had attended last week.

Briefing took place at 16:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Police Inquiry

No.

Briefing took place at 16:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Trident

Asked by the BBC to explain the purpose of this Cabinet meeting, as presumably, the White Paper had already been printed, the PMOS replied that people should see this process all the way through. We had had an initial Cabinet meeting, at which Cabinet discussed the context for the decision, i.e. was this the time to be considering getting rid of our nuclear deterrent? There was then a series of one-on-one talks between Cabinet Ministers and the Defence Secretary and the Foreign Secretary in which the options were explored and discussed. The Cabinet meeting today would be precisely to discuss it and agree the conclusions of those discussions, and to formally decide the Government's position. That would then be included in the White Paper which would be published this afternoon. The PMOS said that there would then be a period of discussion, followed by a vote in Parliament.

Briefing took place at 16:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Iraq/Civil War

Asked for the Prime Minister's thoughts about Kofi Annan's recent comments regarding Iraq, the PMOS said that in terms of civil war, it was better for the Iraqi Government to talk about that. They had said what they had said on that. In terms of Kofi Annan's other comments, the best people to comment on it were the Iraqis themselves. The good thing was that now, unlike under Saddam, people were free to make their comments freely in Iraq.

Briefing took place at 16:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Taoiseach dinner

Asked for further information about the Prime Minister's dinner with Bertie Ahern, the PMOS said that it was a mixture of an update on Northern Ireland, and the more social part was involved with Masterchef.

Briefing took place at 16:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

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