Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman on: Cabinet Committees, Guantanamo Bay, Education and Euro 2004.
Cabinet Committees
In the light of questions at yesterday afternoon’s press briefing about the establishment of a new Cabinet Committee on UK-US relations, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) informed journalists that the Prime Minister had answered a PQ on 27 May this year in which he had listed the names, membership and remits of all the different Cabinet Committees and Sub-Committees, including the new Sub-Committee on UK-US relations. This information had been posted on the Cabinet Office website on the same day.
Guantanamo Bay
Asked if the Defence Secretary had been expressing the Government’s view in an interview on the Today Programme this morning in which he had suggested that he didn’t hold out much hope of persuading the US authorities to change their mind about the use of military tribunals to try those being detained at Guantanamo Bay, the PMS said that the we were continuing to work to resolve the situation with regard to the four remaining British detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Discussions were continuing. Asked if the Attorney General’s position, as set out in his speech today, was the position of the Government, the PMS said that the Attorney General’s remarks were no surprise to us because we had always said that the British detainees should either be tried fairly in accordance with international standards, or they should be returned to the UK. Five of the original British detainees had now returned home. Two of the four remaining detainees had been facing military tribunals, although these were now suspended. Discussions were continuing with the US about their future.
Questioned as to why the US should suddenly take note of the UK’s views after all this time, the PMS said that we were continuing our discussions with the American authorities about this matter, as you would expect. Asked if the Defence Secretary was wrong to be ‘depressed’ about the prospects of making progress on this issue, the PMS said that the media’s inaccurate interpretation of Mr Hoon’s interview was not helpful. He had not said that he was ‘depressed’. Put to her that he had said he didn’t hold out much hope of being able to get things changed, the PMS repeated that discussions were continuing. Put to her that the Attorney General, himself, had recognised that matters were unlikely to change - hence his use of ‘megaphone diplomacy’ today, the PMS said that Lord Goldsmith’s remarks were merely a reflection of the Government’s oft-repeated view. Asked for details about the discussions that were taking place between the UK and US, the PMS said that we had no intention of providing a running a commentary on them.
Asked what action the Government would take were the US authorities to ignore our advice and decide to go ahead with the tribunals anyway, the PMS said that it wasn’t our policy to comment on hypothetical scenarios. On a more general point, however, it was important for people to note that the US had decided to suspend the tribunals for two of the detainees, Moazzam Begg and Feroz Abbasi, following discussions with the UK. Asked if the British Government would apply pressure on the Americans if the latter decided to resume the tribunals, the PMS repeated that discussions were continuing. She was not going to pre-empt their outcome.
Education
Asked about the report in today’s Times about the shake-up in secondary education, the PMS said everyone was well aware that the Government was currently examining proposals to reform secondary education. People should exercise a little patience and wait for the document to be published.
Euro 2004
Asked the Prime Minister’s reaction to the outcome of England’s match last night against Portugal, the PMS said that the Prime Minister was disappointed as anyone else. However, he believed that the England team had shown great spirit last night and, indeed, throughout the tournament. Asked if a Downing Street reception was being planned for the team on their return, the PMS said not as far as she was aware.
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