Downing Street Says » 2007

» Thursday, February 8, 2007

House of Lords Reform

The Leader was asked if he could indicate the date of the debate on the first motion to take forward the White Paper. He said that it still had to be sorted out in the usual manner.

Briefing took place at 15:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Inheritance tax

The Leader, responding to a question, said that there would be the opportunity for debating the issue during the four-day debate on the forthcoming Budget. He could not indicate the date of the Chancellor's statement.

Briefing took place at 15:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (6)

Muslim concerns-terrorism powers

The Leader, referring to his comments earlier, he said he wholly rejected the assertion that Britain was "a police state". He pointed out that nearly 30pc of his constituents were Muslim, and the vast majority wanted to live like everyone else. They were concerned about the obvious stereo-typing from which they had to suffer. They were also angry about criminal terrorists who darkened the name of Islam and the way in which their religion, which was a fine one, was linked unacceptably (as they believed) into the issue.

Briefing took place at 15:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Community Cohesion

Asked if Ruth Kelly had discussed with Cabinet the claim that Britain was a police state for Muslims, the PMOS replied that the issue was discussed and the following points were made:

Briefing took place at 9:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

NSPCC

Asked if the Prime Minister would be making an announcement on paedophiles, the PMOS replied that the Prime Minister would announce that in the coming months we would introduce a new power for police to enter and search a registered sex offender's home for the purpose of assessing the risk they posed to the community.

Briefing took place at 9:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (2)

Health Service Reconfiguration

Asked if Patricia Hewitt had raised the issue of Cabinet Ministers campaigning against reconfiguration in their own constituencies, the PMOS replied that the issue was not raised. We did need to differentiate between two things. Where there was a local consultation process going on, it was perfectly legitimate for MPs and Ministers to make their views known as local representatives of the community. However it became different when decisions were taken following that consultation and decisions were announced. But we were not yet at this stage.

Briefing took place at 9:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (2)

6 Party Talks

Asked about the 6 party talks in Beijing today, the PMOS said that we would watch very carefully what emerged from these discussions. We believed that it was a positive development that they had resumed. But we also wanted to see outcomes.

Briefing took place at 9:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Efficiency Gains

Asked if there was any response to comments by the National Audit Office that many of the recently announced efficiency gains in Whitehall were inaccurate, the PMOS replied that he had not seen the report in detail, so he would come back to it later.

Briefing took place at 9:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Downing Street Snowman

Put to him the most important question of the day was who was responsible for the "terrible" snowman in Downing Street and did it represent the Prime Minister as it was melting rapidly, the PMOS replied that he did not think it was the most important question of the day, but it certainly was the worst.

Briefing took place at 9:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Police Inquiry

Asked if there had been any further contact with the police, the PMOS replied that not so far as he was aware.

Briefing took place at 9:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

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» Thursday, February 8, 2007

House of Lords Reform

Inheritance tax

Muslim concerns-terrorism powers

Community Cohesion

NSPCC

Health Service Reconfiguration

6 Party Talks

Efficiency Gains

Downing Street Snowman

Police Inquiry

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