Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman on: EU Rebate and Honours List.
EU Rebate
Asked if there were any further thoughts on Peter Mandelson’s speech and his comments regarding the EU rebate, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) said there were not. Mr. Mandelson was the EU Commissioner and had set out his views, as had the Prime Minister.
Asked whether we recognised that the two views were very similar, the PMS said she would not comment on what was happening in Europe today. It would be better for people to wait for comments the Prime Minister later.
Honours List
Asked for further information on the Committee Honours Chairmen list, the PMS explained that it was a Written Ministerial Statement from the Prime Minister. It detailed the new chairs of the Honours Committees. The new Committees had been established as a result of the two reviews of the Honours system, which had been carried out by Haydn Philips and the Public Administration Select Committee. Various recommendations were put forward, one of which was that the chairs of these committees should be appointed. The chairs announced today had applied for the posts and their applications had been dealt with through the Nolan principles. The PMS said that previously, the committees had been chaired by civil servants. These new Committees would scrutinise the Honours lists to be published at New Year. It was part of the new transparency that surrounded the Honours system.
Asked why the Honours list was "stuffed full of establishment figures", the PMS said she did not agree with the premise of the question. The new chairs had applied for the posts, and had gone through an appointment procedure. They were clearly people who had vast experience, not only in public and business life, but also in their personal life, and had been appointed on merit.
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