Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman on: Schools Statement, International Monetary Fund, Housing, Fixed Rate Mortgages, Constitutional Reform and Russia
Schools Statement
Asked if the relationship between academies and LEAs would change at all, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) replied that in relation to academies, we were reducing the £2million entry fee for universities and higher education institutions to strengthen the link between universities and academies. This enabled the Secretary of State to announce a whole raft of new academies today, and a long list of universities who were signing up to the academies programme. There was no change in the changes to the governance arrangements for academies. Academies retained the special independence and freedom that enabled them to drive up standards.
Put that it was still the case, as in Tower Hamlets, that an LEA could turn down an academy, as they were the ones who decided whether to go ahead or not, the PMS replied that in practice there was a very close relationship between LEAs and academies, and that was what we were continuing.
International Monetary Fund
Asked if the Prime Minister was happy with the apparent choice of Dominique Strauss-Kahn as the next head of the IMF, the PMS replied that our position was that we would like to see an open and transparent process. That was the position adopted by the board yesterday. As regards to what was happening at ECOFIN, it was best that journalists speak to the Treasury who were on the ground and better placed to provide an update on the situation.
Put that yesterday we said it was "very early days" to be talking about this, and asked if this was still the case, the PMS replied that our position was that we would like to see an open process, and we agreed with the statement put out by the IMF board last night. But for the latest on the ground developments, it was best to check with the Treasury.
Housing
Asked if the Prime Minister could gives assurances that greenbelt land would stay as greenbelt land as more housing developments were expected to be announced tomorrow, the PMS replied that we could give that assurance. We were not proposing any changes to the very robust protections to greenbelt land. Environmental protection was central to the plans for new housing, all new homes would be zero-carbon by 2016, and there would be new eco-towns and villages to lead the way for greener and more affordable housing. We had already increased the amount of greenbelt land, and were not proposing changes to the robust protections that apply to greenbelt land.
Fixed Rate Mortgages
Asked if there were future intentions to move towards long term fixed rate mortgages, and asked where we were now after the Prime Minister (as Chancellor) commissioned the Miles Review on this, the PMS replied that the FSA, in line with the recommendations of the Miles Review, improved the amount of information that that was able to enable people to make more choice, but it was best to check with the Treasury on detail. With regard to future intentions, it was best to wait for tomorrow’s statement.
Asked what role the Government would have in respect to fixed rate mortgages, since it did not sell financial products, the PMS replied that this was an incredibly market sensitive area. It was something we had looked at in the past, and clearly there was a role for the Financial Services Authority, and also the Debt Management Office. But it would be inappropriate on such a market sensitive matter, to speculate on what may or may not be announced.
Constitutional Reform
Asked what the purpose of tomorrow’s pre-Queen’s Speech was, the PMS replied that the purpose of tomorrow’s debate was to set out the main legislative priorities for the Government. There was discussion at Cabinet on this, and the overarching theme was how the Government responds to the rising aspirations of people by providing better opportunities for the future. So the priorities for the legislative programme would be: Housing, and the measures we needed to take to make housing opportunities more widely available; Education opportunities, taking forward some of the measures announced by Ed Balls today; and responding to people’s concerns about better health care.
Asked if much would be made of the fixed rate mortgage plan tomorrow, the PMS replied that it would be best to wait for the statement on that, but detailed announcements on this would come from the Treasury.
Asked if this legislation was for pre-legislative scrutiny ahead of being formally included in The Queen’s Speech, or was it just Bills, the PMS replied that we would not be publishing draft Bills. We would be publishing a list of Bills with some explanation of what the main items in those Bills will be, for consultation prior to The Queen’s Speech.
Asked where this left The Queens’ Speech, the PMS replied that it left The Queen’s Speech as The Queen’s Speech. This whole process had been conducted in full consultation with the Palace.
Russia
Asked if there was any response to the Russians saying they were not going to extradite Lugovoy, the PMS replied that we made our position very clear on that this morning.
Put that we had said this morning that we would "pursue the options", and asked what the options were, the PMS replied that it would not be appropriate to start discussing what the options were. Once the Foreign Office had given proper consideration of what they were, they would then respond accordingly.
Put that the Russians have said that legally there are no further options as it was against their constitution, and asked if we were talking sanctions or appeals for example, the PMS replied that it was best if the Foreign Office considered an appropriate response to this very serious matter, and announced it in the proper way.
Put that this morning we were saying that we were considering our cooperation with the Russians, and asked if this was the area that we were looking at, the PMS replied that we were reviewing the extent of our cooperation with the Russians on a number of issues.
Asked if we did not need the Russians cooperation on a number of issues such as Iran, the PMS replied that Russia was an important partner on many issues, and we do seek a constructive relationship. But this was a very serious crime, committed against a UK citizen on British soil. We think it is right that Mr Lugovoy should answer the evidential case against him in a British court.
Asked what we say to the Russians who claim they have not been presented with any evidence, the PMS replied that they had been presented the file by the CPS.
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