Press briefing - afternoon 4 March 2013
The Prime Minister's Spokesperson (PMS) answered questions on the Human Rights Act, Sir David Nicholson and section 75.
Human rights act
Asked about the government’s position on scrapping the Human Rights Act, the PMS replied that the government’s position is very clearly set out in the coalition’s programme for government and it has not changed.
Questioned on the PM being dismayed that Cabinet Ministers from his own party were saying very different things on the subject the PMS replied that the PM’s view is that the coalition government has a clear position and other matters are for respective manifestos.
Asked what the next steps were for the commission that the government established to investigate the creation of a British Bill of Rights the PMS replied that the commission has now reported and the government is giving careful consideration to this report.
Questioned if officials were working on a response the PMS said that in the usual way, government is considering the report at official and ministerial level.
Section 75
Asked where the government was with section 75 of the health and social care act the PMS said that there was a process being led by Lord Howe to explain why the government believed the regulations were the right ones.
David Nicholson
Asked how David Nicholson can still be in charge of the NHS, the PMS said the PM has set out his views on this issue which remain unchanged.
Migrants and access to benefits
Asked who sits on the Cabinet sub-committee on migrants access to benefits and public services, the PMS read out the full membership list.