Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman on: Northern Rock, Tony Blair, police interview, donations investigation, blood contamination, New Zealand PM, President Bush statment, US elections and Peter Hain
Northern Rock
Asked if the Government was approaching sovereign wealth funds to see if they wanted to buy Northern Rock, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) replied that, at the request of the Northern Rock board, the tripartite committee had asked Goldman Sachs to determine the optimal financing package for the sale of the company as part of the goal to resolve the situation as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Asked if that included sovereign wealth funds, the PMS replied that that would be a matter for Goldman Sachs.
Tony Blair
Asked if appointments taken up by former Prime Minister Tony Blair were subject to the usual form of approval, the PMS replied yes; Section 7.25 of the Ministerial Code set out the procedures for Ministers, which would include the ex-Prime Minister; Ministers must seek advice from the Independent Advisory Committee on any appointments or employment that they wish to take up within two years of leaving office.
Asked if that was a civil service committee or an independent committee, the PMS replied that it was the Independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and that the Cabinet Office could give details.
Asked if that meant that there were no sanctions, the PMS replied that the Cabinet Office would give chapter and verse on process and procedure. The procedures were set out clearly in the Ministerial Code and those were the procedures people followed.
Asked if that had been the process Tony Blair had followed, the PMS said that it was not for him to answer that question, it was a matter for the Cabinet Office. However, for guidance, the understanding was that Tony Blair had followed those procedures.
Police Interview
Asked if the Prime Minister had been interviewed by the police, the PMS said no, he had not.
Donations Investigation
Put that the Daily Mail had published a story claiming that arrests related to the donations investigation were imminent, the PMS said that that was not something journalists would expect him to comment on.
Blood Contamination
Asked if the Prime Minister was alarmed by stories that some British personnel had been given contaminated blood, the PMS replied that of course this was a very serious matter and the Ministry of Defence were taking it very seriously. There had been a response from the MoD this morning explaining what action they were taking.
New Zealand Prime Minister
Asked what the Prime Minister and the New Zealand Prime Minister would be discussing at their meeting, the PMS replied that they knew each other quite well and had met quite a few times before; they would be discussing, among other issues, Pakistan, Burma and the climate change agenda.
President Bush Statement
Asked if the Prime Minister would be responding to President Bush’s statement on the Middle East, the PMS replied that he had no specific response today but that obviously we had always made very clear that we very much welcomed this initiative from President Bush and we fully supported it.
Asked if the Government was still backing a two state solution, the PMS replied yes.
US Elections
Asked if it was the Government’s position not to back a particular candidate in the US elections, the PMS said that the Prime Minister had made his position clear that he would not intervene in the US democratic process.
Asked about David Lammy’s piece in the Mirror this morning, the PMS said that he did not remember seeing anything in the Mirror but that David Lamy had been speaking yesterday in a personal capacity and any comments made were in a personal capacity.
Peter Hain
Asked if the Prime Minister still had confidence in Peter Hain, the PMS replied yes.
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