Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman and Leader of the House Jack Straw on: Police inquiry, Forthcoming Business, Spoof Video, Guantanamo Bay, Muslim Veil, SIAC Evidence, Political Memoirs, House of Lords Reform and Prison Violence
Police inquiry
Asked if the Prime Minister had been interviewed by Scotland Yard, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) replied that there had been no change in the position since the question was last asked.
Forthcoming Business
The Leader of the House said that on, Monday October 16, the business would be devoted to a Liberal Democrat Opposition Day. The first half would be a debate entitled "Post Office Network"; the second would be on "The Green Tax Switch". Provisionally, Douglas Alexander would speak on behalf of the Government in the latter debate.
On the next three days, the House would debate remaining stages of the Companies Bill [Lords]. Margaret Hodge would speak on behalf of the Government.
On Friday, October 20, Private Members Bills would be taken.
Remaining stages of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill [Lords] would be discussed on Monday, October 23.
Spoof Video
Asked for his reaction, the Leader said that he had not seen the broadcast of the video, adding that it was a matter for the MP to explain. Pressed about whether it was helpful to make personal attacks on the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Straw said his view, which applied across the board, was that it was necessary to ensure that political discourse was at a reasonably high level and avoided personal attacks. However, it was a matter for the MP.
Guantanamo Bay
Mr Straw indicated that he agreed with the earlier comments of the Foreign Secretary. To the suggestion that her comments appeared to go further than previously, the Leader said that she had made clear that the view of the Prime Minister was that the camp should be closed. He said that she had gone on to explain the reasoning for that. The Leader added his own observation that what was explicable and justifiable five years ago might not be at present because of changed circumstances.
Muslim Veil
He was asked if he regretted the "can of worms" that had been opened by his comments in a local newspaper column last week. Mr Straw said that he did not regret what he had written and he stood by his article. He pointed out that, in the same newspaper today, he had written a further column, which reflected on reaction over the past week. He also drew attention to the fact that he had made almost identical comments in June at a conference in London, organised by the Muslim Council of Britain. Although the media was present on that occasion, not a word of his views was reported.
Asked about divided views among Cabinet colleagues about his comments, the Leader emphasised that it was not a matter of Government policy. He had made his written comments as a concerned constituency MP. He had put his views out for discussion but, as he had made clear, he was not being prescriptive. It was suggested to the Leader that the Deputy Prime Minister had voiced his concerns about possible damage to community relations and that he had spoken privately to him about these. Mr Straw said that he thought the DPM’s response was helpful, but he declined to comment further. Mr Straw said it had not arisen at the Cabinet meeting earlier. On the issue of violence, he condemned it wherever it occurred.
SIAC Evidence
Asked for view, the Leader pointed out that the Solicitor General had dealt with the issue in the House earlier. He had also been asked about it during Business Questions. Both he and the Solicitor General had said that it was very regrettable, but pointed out that this should not detract from the value of SIAC. It was very difficult to devise a process which, above all, was fair to the person accused but also protected national security. In general, SIAC had been found to be fair when it had been subject to review by the Court of Appeal. In this particular case, there was criticism by SIAC of what the Home Office had done which, he said, emphasised the robustness of those who sat in SIAC and their concern to defend properly the rights of the accused.
Political Memoirs
The Leader said he had made some general remarks about this subject when he gave evidence to the Public Administration Select Committee earlier in the year. Referring to David Blunkett’s diaries, he said he was not offering a book review at present.
House of Lords Reform
Asked about progress, the Leader said it was in hand. He expected a report of the Joint Committee on Conventions, governing relationships between the Houses, by the end of the present session in mid-November. The Leader said that he then proposed to publish a White Paper, which would reflect on the substantive issue of the composition of the House of Lords but also take full account of the Joint Committee’s recommendations. Pressed about then timing of the White Paper, he said he could not say exactly for the reason that he needed to learn the outcome of the Joint Committee’s report. He was well aware of the need to move ahead with immediate speed. The Government’s response would contain a series of options and there would be a free vote. It remained to be seen whether there would be a Government preferred option.
Prison Violence
He was asked for his view, as a former Home Secretary, of a parliamentary answer which indicated a rise in prison violence and also in self-harm cases among prisoners. He said he had not seen the detailed figures, but it was possible that the increase reflected differences in reporting procedures and definitions rather than actual changes in the level of violence. Overall, on the rise in prison places, he said that it was very significant. The Government had increased the total by 4,000 in the last two years and nearly 20,000 since 1997. A further programme would deliver 900 more places by 2007 and another 8,000 by 2012. At the same time, the physical environment of many prisoners had been improved along with drug treatments, medical services and work and education in prisons. There was no direct connection between the numbers in prison and the behaviour of prisoners.
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