Downing Street Says » 2007

» Monday, June 11, 2007

Sarkozy Meeting/EU

Asked for further information about a proposed meeting this week between the Prime Minister, President Sarkozy and the Chancellor, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) told journalists that there was a proposal for a meeting, but it was a question of whether diaries came together.

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

Iraq

Asked about the current thinking on an Iraq inquiry, the PMOS replied that first and foremost, there had been four inquiries on Iraq. Secondly, what mattered now was what happened on the ground in terms of the military effort, political effort and the economic effort. That was where the focus we believed should be.

Briefing took place at 9:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

Libya MOU

Asked by the Herald if the Prime Minister would be writing to the Scottish Executive with regards to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and also, that the Government had tried to get through to the Scottish Executive, but couldn't get through as it was a Bank Holiday according to some reports, the PMOS said that the whole premise to this story was a red herring. The MOU did not cover the al-Megrahi case. Secondly, we would say nothing and do nothing about that case whiles it was the subject of a legal review. Thirdly, in the MOU, it said in black and white that this was only at a draft stage and before further work was done, we would need to consult with the devolved administrations. At every stage of this so-called story it went into a blind alley.

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

BAE

Asked to comment about BAE appointing Lord Woolf, the PMOS replied that that was entirely a matter for BAE.

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

» Friday, June 8, 2007

G8

As introduction the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said we saw the G8 process work in terms of moving us significantly further forward on climate change. The G8 process had worked on Africa as well, because what had happened in the run-up to the summit, we had seen the US increase their aid by $30 billion on AIDS, we had seen Germany commit $3 billion dollars over four years, and we had seen the Italians doubling their aid to Africa. The importance of this was that Gleneagles had set out not just the headlines, but also the ambitions on Africa. This meeting was about putting in the details in terms of programmes, in terms of subjects, in terms of countries on AIDS, on education, on malaria, on drugs prices and showing that there was a long-term commitment on resolving the problems of Africa.

Briefing took place at 9:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

Al – Megrahi

Asked whether in retrospect it would have been a good idea to have told the Scottish Executive about the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Libya, the PMOS said first and foremost this was a non row, because the Megrahi case was the subject of legal review, therefore nothing could be done about the case while the review was taking place. Secondly, this was a Memorandum of Understanding, which was about further discussion with Libya and it clearly refers to the fact that there would have to be agreement with the devolved administration on any specifics. This was the start of the conversation, not the end of a conversation. Asked repeatedly if the Government had ever taken a position on whether Megrahi should or should not be returned to Libya, the PMOS said he did not want to talk about the Megrahi case in any way because it was the subject of a legal review and therefore there were legal constraints. We have made it clear the issue over this Memorandum of Understanding was a complete red herring from the beginning to the end.

Briefing took place at 9:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (3)

BAE

Put that Lord Goldsmith had come out and categorically denied the suggestion that he had asked officials to conceal these payments, but given BAE have said that they were Government to Government payments, doesn't the Government have to come out at some stage and say what Ministers knew about these payments and why they were paid, the PMOS said he nothing further to add to what Lord Goldsmith had said.

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

» Thursday, June 7, 2007

Forthcoming Business

The Leader announced that business for the week ahead would be:

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

Iraq inquiry debate

It was put to the Leader that Ministers had indicated that a further inquiry was expected at the appropriate time. Asked if the debate next week would clarify this, Mr Straw said that the Government had only just seen the Opposition motion and a Government amendment was being prepared.

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

G8 summit

In response to a question, the Leader said that the Prime Minister planned to make an oral statement next week.

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

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» Monday, June 11, 2007

Sarkozy Meeting/EU

Iraq

Libya MOU

BAE

» Friday, June 8, 2007

G8

Al – Megrahi

BAE

» Thursday, June 7, 2007

Forthcoming Business

Iraq inquiry debate

G8 summit

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