Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman on: Troops in Afghanistan, PMQ’s, Derek Conway, Heathrow and Chilcott review
Troops in Afghanistan
Asked repeatedly to comment on reports that British troops were being sent to Afghanistan without full military training, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) told the assembled press that the Government’s response was that there was absolutely no question of compromising on our training standards or sending troops into operational theatres unprepared. There was no question of units being employed under-strength and where units earmarked to deploy were below establishment, these would continue to be backfilled by other units as appropriate.
Put that there had been several allegations that some units were sent out under-strength and could the PMS be categorical that that was not happening, the PMS said that the position that the Ministry of Defence were setting out, was that there was no question of compromising on our training standards or sending troops into operational theatres unprepared.
PMQ’s
Put that the Prime Minister had mislead MP’s during PMQ’s, when he suggested that health spending in England was higher than in Scotland, the PMS replied that he was not aware of any such allegation being made against the Prime Minister, but he would check what the facts were and get back to people.
Derek Conway
Asked repeatedly on the subject of MP’s allowances and whether the Prime Minister agreed with Jack Straw’s comments made earlier that day, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister did agree with Jack Straw’s comments, that there should be greater transparency over MP’s expenses. Exactly how this should be achieved was a matter for the House authorities to consider. Asked if he thought the Committee on Standards in Public life should look at the case, the PMS reiterated that achieving greater transparency was a matter for the House and the relevant authorities. Asked if the Prime Minister had a view on whether MP’s should employ members of their family, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister’s view was that he believed MP’s should operate within the spirit and the letter of the rules.
Asked if it really was a matter for the House authorities, when the message being sent out to the public sector was that there was one rule for MP’s and another for everyone else, the PMS replied that it was a matter for the House authorities. In relation to public sector pay, where there was a direct analogy to the rest of the public sector, the Prime Minister had made his views very clear. The PMS repeated that the Prime Minister did think there was a case for greater transparency over MP’s expenses, but the mechanism and exactly how this should be achieved was for the House authorities to consider.
In response to whether the Prime Minister agreed to the suspension of Derek Conway, the PMS said it was a matter being looked at by the House authorities and was being considered by MP’s today. The PMS added that the Prime Minister was not taking a position on the subject that would come as any surprise to people. Asked if the Prime Minister would be voting that afternoon, the PMS said that he was not sure.
Asked if the Prime Minister was happy that Parliament was rife with nepotism, the PMS suggested that that was more of an assertion than a question. The PMS added that all he could say was that the Prime Minister agreed with the sentiments expressed by Jack Straw that morning.
Asked if the Prime Minister thought that Derek Conway should be expelled from Parliament, the PMS said that that was not a matter for him to comment on.
Heathrow
Asked if the Government held a view on the location and growth of Heathrow, the PMS said that the Government’s position in relation to the expansion of Heathrow was well-documented, well known and hadn’t changed. The Prime Minister had expressed his view on the subject on several occasions and believed that it was right that there should be a consultation as to whether or not there should be an expansion of capacity at Heathrow. Asked if the Prime Minister had ever agreed to a deal with BAA in which BAA would support Crossrail in return for the expansion of Heathrow, the PMS said he was not aware that anybody had ever made such suggestions.
Chilcott Review
Asked if the Prime Minister had received Sir John Chilcott’s review on Intercept, the PMS replied that when we were in a position to publish the Chilcott Review, we would publish it and make an announcement.
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