Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman and the Leader of the House of Commons on: Pay Awards, Environment, Forthcoming Business, House of Lords Reform, Trident Debate-Vote, Casino Order-Debate and Avian Flu-Compensation
Pay Awards
Asked if the pay awards were discussed at Cabinet this morning, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that the Chancellor had set out what he was going to announce. Asked if the PMOS was in a position to give the headlines, the PMOS said no, it was better for departments to do it.
Environment
Asked if it was correct that the Prime Minister was aiming for 20 percent renewables, the PMOS said, as he had said this morning, we believe that this is a key period in the run up, not just to the EU Summit next week but also, to the G8 discussion in June and therefore what we need to do, both as a country and as the EU is set an example, in terms of setting out an ambitious target. This is because we need to show not just the US but also India and China in particular, that we are serious about climate change as a whole and therefore that’s why we do support the setting out by the EU of ambitious targets, as long as the ambitious target takes into account the individual circumstances in each country.
Forthcoming Business
The Leader said that, on Monday, March 5, MPs would debate the second reading of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill [Lords] (Vera Baird and Nick Ainger for Government). On Tuesday, March 6, the first day of the debate on House of Lords Reform (Jack Straw and Nigel Griffiths); Wednesday, March 7 - conclusion of the debate on House of Lords Reform Bridget Prentice and Jack Straw); Thursday, March 8 - a debate entitled "Women, Justice and Gender Equality in the UK" on a motion for the Adjournment (Vera Baird and Meg Munn); Friday, March 9 - Private Members Bills.
Provisional business for the following week would be:
Monday, March 12 - Estimates (2nd Allotted Day), subject to be confirmed by the Liaison Committee; Tuesday, March 13 - Proceedings on the Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill, followed by Remaining Stages of the Statistics and Registration Service Bill; Wednesday, March 14 - a debate on Trident on a Government Motion; Thursday, March 15 - a debate on a Motion for the Adjournment of the House, subject to be announced; Friday, March 16 - not sitting.
House of Lords Reform
The Leader said that the votes would start at 5.30pm on March 7, following the approval of a Business motion earlier this week. Currently, there were nine motions before the House, and voting would take two-and-a-quarter hours if there were divisions on each of them. Although he could not be certain, he suspected that one or two of them might not be the subject of a division. It had also been agreed to suspend the Standing Orders which prevented inconsistent motions being put to the vote. That would mean that MPs would vote on each of the key propositions even if one had been carried already.
Asked about comments on his own voting intentions, the Leader said that, in an exchange during Business Questions earlier, he had confirmed that he would support a 50pc elected element of a reformed second chamber, and also 60pc and 80pc. Mr Straw said that he wanted to see a result. His preference, as spelt out in the recent White Paper, was for an evenly-balanced chamber between elected and appointed members. He would vote for that. However, since he was urging other MPs not "to make the best the enemy of the good", he also favoured that or a majority elected chamber. Thus, he would vote for the 60pc and 80pc options. Ministers would then have to make a judgement about the size of the majority on each - if indeed there was a majority. Mr Straw said he did not regard that position as inconsistent. He would be voting against a wholly-elected and wholly-appointed second chamber, as well as the options for a 20pc and 40pc elected element. Asked if he was attempting to set an example to the "purists", he agreed. He had been making the argument in favour of the alternative vote system (which had since been dropped) in that it would have enabled the House of Commons to come to a clear decision, and enable individuals to express preferences. His voting intentions would have been his preferences under an AV process. In the absence of the AV system, he was following the advice he was giving to others about not making "the best the enemy of the good".
Trident Debate-Vote
The Leader said he had answered a question earlier in the House about whether there would be any Government statements in advance which could constrain the time available for debate. He had indicated that he hoped there would not be any except in the case of an emergency. If there were, there would be discussion about an extension of time.
Casino Order-Debate
Asked whether there had been any discussion about amending the motion to allow views about locations other than Manchester to be decided, the Leader said that it was the nature of delegated legislation that it should not be amendable. Therefore, a single Order would be before the House. There had been no formal discussion about whether it should be amendable. Inevitably, the recommendations from the casino advisory committee, which Tessa Jowell had said she was minded to accept, were part of a package. Mr Straw said that would be put to the House. Asked if there was any possibility of a free vote, the Leader said that it was a Government decision. The exact nature of the whipping would be determined by the Government Chief Whip in due course.
Avian Flu-Compensation
The Leader was asked about a report that the owner of the affected turkey firm in Norfolk was in line for more than £600,000 compensation. He said he could not confirm the figures. Asked further if it was appropriate that compensation should be paid, Mr Straw said that it depended on the specific circumstances and what culpability - if any - attached. It was a matter for the Secretary of State for Defra. The Leader said he was not in a position to comment on the particular case.
Mr Straw then responded to further questions about party matters.
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