Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Northern Ireland, Health Care Commission, David Blunkett, Veils and Misc
Northern Ireland
Asked whether if the Prime Minister was encouraged by what Gerry Adams had said in his speech last night the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that as the International Monitoring Commission (IMC) Report had highlighted the Republican leadership knew that they had to engage with the police and Gerry Adams’ speech last nights seemed to echo that assessment. In terms of the details this was one leg of the issues that had to be addressed in the next few days. The other issue being power sharing, and as we said earlier this week the number of issues being faced this week is relatively small. And we believed it was a matter of how and when we moved forward, not if.
Asked at what part of the day there would be a deadline on Friday the PMOS replied that Dr Paisley wished to be back in Belfast on the Friday night for his golden wedding anniversary. That aside `he could not predict timings precisely but emphasised that those involved needed to know where they were going in terms of the process by Friday and if a deal was possible and on what terms. People would need time to consult grass roots but there was legislation in place that if no progress was made by 24 November 2006 there would be consequences.
Asked how optimistic he was regarding progress of the talks the PMOS replied that it was his long standing policy not to get into the optimism/pessimism discussion regarding Northern Ireland but that he was realistic, and what was undeniable was the very real progress which the IMC Report had articulated last week in terms of IRA activity, but also the efforts on the loyalist side. The PMOS also said that Northern Ireland was a changed place and the talks this week were an opportunity for politics to move on to reflect that change. This opportunity was there for the party leaders in a way that had not been there before.
Health Care Commission
Asked about the Health Care Commission Report (HCC) that £500 billion had been spent on the NHS but the HCC was now critical of trusts the PMOS said that the Report had not yet been published and that claims leaked regarding hospital ratings were wrong. The Department of Health were confident that the picture would be much brighter when the full Report was published on Thursday. He added that people should not misinterpret the process of change within the NHS. With regards to budget deficits there were some areas of the NHS, a minority of organisations, where there were weak management structures and these were being addressed. Secondly this should not be confused with the process of reconfiguration which was responding to changes in medical treatments, technology and changes in disease patterns but also changes in people’s desire to have services closer to where they live. All of this made change, in terms of the structure, inevitable. People should not pretend that the NHS of 10 years ago was the NHS that was needed today, it needs to change. Part of this change does highlight problems but that this is a sign of health not weakness.
David Blunkett
Asked if the Prime Minister thought that the divisions in Cabinet over the Gulf War, as published in David Blunkett’s memoirs, was helpful the PMOS reminded everyone that he did not do, and never had done book reviews and that this position had not changed. Asked if Prime Minister had read the extracts the PMOS replied that he doubted it. Asked if the Prime Minister had been confident of the Chancellor’s support to go to war the PMOS said that the Chancellor had made his position clear.
Asked if the Prime Minister would have sacked the Chancellor if he had not backed the war the PMOS repeated that the Chancellor had made his position clear at the time and since. Asked if David Blunkett was wrong to attribute the Prime Minister’s view that if the Chancellor did not support the Prime Minister over this issue he should be sacked the PMOS replied said he would not be doing a book review. Asked if the Prime Minister felt compelled to sack any Cabinet Minister if they did not back him over such an important issue the PMOS replied that, as always, he did not answer hypothetical questions.
Veils
Asked about whether the Prime Minister agreed with Trevor Philips’s view on the wearing of veils, the PMOS replied as he had said yesterday the Prime Minister welcomed the debate but there was no government policy on the wearing of veils, as it was a personal decision. Asked if it was a Governmental or personal decision to speak English the PMOS replied that that was a different question. Asked if the Prime Minister would be happy to meet women wearing veils in Downing Street the PMOS said he was not aware of the Prime Minister’s view.
Asked about potential meetings with Muslim delegations the PMOS said he had not searched the diary. The PMOS also said as he had found in the past, if the Prime Minister expressed a view on personal issues it could stop debate rather than encourage debate. Asked if there would be a policy on wearing of veils to aid community cohesion the PMOS reiterated what Jack Straw had said that the wearing of a veil is a personal matter. Asked if everyone having a view meant that there was no control over the debate and this could cause community tensions the PMOS replied that those who have spoken on this had done so in a careful way and while these were sensitive issues they could be debated. This was not an issue where there has to be a Government position as the wearing of veils was an entirely personal choice.
Misc
Asked if the Prime Minister had been contacted by the Metropolitan Police over the cash for peerages issue the PMOS replied that the position had not changed since yesterday or the day before that. Asked if there was any comment on the alleged second nuclear test in North Korea the PMOS replied that the situation would continued to be monitored and that discussion continued at the UN. Asked about what the Prime Minister and the Hungarian Prime Minister, Ferenc Gyurcsány, would discuss today the PMOS replied that there were European matters in common as well as issues over the UN in Afghanistan, to which the Hungarians contributing.
Asked by the Press Association if the meeting would be recorded, the PMOS asked that the serious frown on his face be noted on the record. Asked if Jack McConnell would be meeting the Prime Minsiter on arrival in Scotland the PMOS thought he would be.
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