Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman on: Youth Justice Pledge, Europe Day, China and Iraq.
Youth Justice Pledge
The Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) drew journalists’ attention to the Youth Justice Pledge statistics for February which had been published today. These showed that there were now 66 days from arrest to sentence for young offenders, particularly persistent offenders - well within the 71 day target set by the Government.
Europe Day
The PMS advised journalists that the Prime Minister would be visiting Paris on Sunday to celebrate, which was particularly appropriate since this year was the centenary of the Entente Cordiale. In the morning, the Prime Minister and President Chirac would join a debate at the Elysee with a group of 400 French and British students. This would be followed by a private working lunch attended by the Prime Minister, President Chirac and Prime Minister Raffarin. In the afternoon, the Prime Minister and the French Prime Minister would address and meet with students at the Matignon. The Prime Minister would also meet Francois Holland, the leader of the French Socialists. In answer to questions about the debate at the Elysee, the PMS said that the participating British students were currently studying in the UK. The visit was part of a programme of links between British and French university students to mark the anniversary of the Entente Cordiale.
Asked what the Prime Minister, President Chirac and Prime Minister Raffarin would discuss during their working lunch, the PMS said that it would be a private lunch and we would not be briefing in detail on their discussions. No doubt they would cover a number of issues. She took the opportunity to remind journalists that the Prime Minister was in regular contact with President Chirac in any event, so it was not as if they would be meeting for the first time in a long time on Sunday.
China
The PMS informed journalists that the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, would be arriving in the UK on Sunday for his first visit here since taking up his appointment in March 2003. He would meet the Prime Minister for talks on Monday. There would be a Guard of Honour in the FCO Quadrangle on his arrival and a joint press conference in Downing Street. The Chinese Premier would also be meeting the Deputy Prime Minister, Jack Straw, Patricia Hewitt and Hilary Benn during his visit. Asked if this was a State Visit, the PMS said no, it was an official visit. The Chinese Premier would be a guest of the Government. Asked for how long he would be visiting the UK, the PMS said until Tuesday. It was part of a wider European trip. The two leaders had last met in July 2003 during the Prime Minister’s visit to China.
Asked if the Prime Minister would raise the issue of Chinese human rights abuses with the Premier during their meeting, the PMS said we had always acknowledged our differences. However, we had a mature relationship with the Chinese Government and were able to have a dialogue with them about this issue. She pointed out that China was already making progress in this area, such as the introduction of some legal reforms. Asked if the two leaders would discuss the position of Hong Kong, the PMS said that we remained committed to Hong Kong preserving its level of autonomy, stability and prosperity. Asked if the Chinese Government also remained committed to that, the PMS said that the issue of Hong Kong would no doubt be raised during the meeting on Monday.
Iraq
Asked about the latest claims and pictures relating to allegations of mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by British troops, the PMS said that the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch was carrying out an investigation. That was continuing. Asked the Government’s view of the pictures, the PMS repeated that the SIB was carrying out an investigation. It would not be helpful to pre-empt their findings. Asked if the Prime Minister had been made aware of the allegations made by Soldier ‘C’, the PMS repeated that the SIB was investigating. She had no intention of providing a running commentary on how the investigation was progressing.
Asked if the Prime Minister was prepared for British troops to operate outside Basra in the light of Geoff Hoon’s indication in his Guardian interview today that Ministers were reluctant to issue authorisation for them to do so, the PMS said that that suggestion was based merely on a media interpretation of Mr Hoon’s comments. She pointed out that Mr Hoon had also underlined in his interview that no decision had yet been taken on the issue of troop deployments. That remained the position. Asked the Prime Minister’s view of the matter, the PMS said that she had just spelled it out. As her colleague had been telling journalists the whole week, this issue was kept under constant review, as you would expect, and no decision had been taken at this stage. That remained the case. Pressed repeatedly as to whether the Prime Minister was prepared to send British troops to serve outside Basra, the PMS repeated that no decision had been taken about sending any extra troops to the region. The situation was kept under constant review. She had nothing further to add to what she had already said about this issue.
delicious
digg
facebook
