Downing Street Says » 2007

» Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Northern Ireland Economy

Put by the Guardian that he understood that the Ian Paisley was going to see the Chancellor, and that he also understood that there was a tradition that the PMOS did not discuss tax policy, but were there any further thoughts about corporation tax, the PMOS replied that he would keep to the convention, and instead, let the meeting take place and then respond to it. The PMOS said that he wanted to mark a considerable sign of progress in then process of lobby engagement that the journalist had acknowledged that convention!

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

Nurses’ Pay

Asked if the Prime Minister was planning to meet any MPs, the PMOS said that he was not aware of any plans to do so. The Prime Minister had set out the argument, the basic reason for the decision, and why it had to be taken this year.

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

Northern Ireland

Asked if the Prime Minister had any views on the comments made by Peter Mandelson on Northern Ireland, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that as was made clear on the Today programme, the peace process was about balancing risks. It was about trying to bring both sides along. The ultimate test is whether you succeed in that process or not. He added that in Peter Mandelson's time as Secretary of State we both achieved devolution and stood devolution down again. Looking back what it was all about was bringing all sides along to where we are now. Where we are now is that we have had an election in which the very clear message on the doorstep was that the public want their politicians to get on with it and deal with domestic Northern Ireland matters.

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

Trident

Asked if the Prime Minister would be meeting Labour MPs today to urge them to vote for Trident, the PMOS said he was not aware of any plans at this stage. Asked if the Prime Minister would be taking part in the vote, the PMOS said he was sure the Prime Minister would, but he would check. He added that the basic argument on Trident remained essentially as that set out originally. You have to make a decision now because of the long lead times involved and because of the need to tell industry what your intentions are. If you don't do so then you are de facto making a decision not to replace Trident. That was the hard reality. That is why we need to make the decision this year.

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

Police Inquiry

No.

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

» Monday, March 12, 2007

Trident

Asked if a new Deputy Leader to the House of Commons had been appointed, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) replied that a new appointment had not been made. Asked if the Prime Minister had sent a letter in reply to Nigel Griffiths, the Prime Minister replied that he was sure that at some stage we would send a letter. Asked if the Prime Minister intended to appoint a replacement at some stage, the PMOS replied that the Prime Minister would take his time.

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

Hans Blix

Asked to comment on Hans Blix's remarks, the PMOS replied that as he had said this morning there was an international consensus at the time, which included Hans Blix, that Saddam Hussain did indeed have the weapons. Four inquiries had concluded that the Government acted in good faith.

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

Climate Change Bill

Asked for details on tomorrow's Climate Change Bill, the PMOS replied that the Bill would be launched by the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, and David Miliband, and would set out a comprehensive approach to the environment. This meant setting realistic and achievable targets for emissions across the board, not just in terms of one measure, but a series of measures. These measures would, as the Prime Minister had just said, be brought in a way that would not harm our economy at the expense of other economies, or our public at the expense of other publics. The balance needed to be struck.

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

Government changes

Asked if Jim Devine and Stephen Pound were still members of the Government, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that he had no changes to announce.

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

Trident

Asked to confirm that the Prime Minister would not be taking part in the debate on Trident in the House of Commons on Wednesday, the PMOS said that he would not be. Traditionally, defence debates were taken by a mixture of the Defence Secretary and the Foreign Secretary.

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

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» Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Northern Ireland Economy

Nurses’ Pay

Northern Ireland

Trident

Police Inquiry

» Monday, March 12, 2007

Trident

Hans Blix

Climate Change Bill

Government changes

Trident

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