Press briefing: afternoon 6 January 2014
The Prime Minister’s Spokesperson (PMS) answered questions on honours, immigration, Simon Hoggart, spending, election debate and floods.
Honours
Asked about whether the Prime Minister (PM) was pleased that his hairdresser got an honour, the PMS said there is an independent verification process for the awarding of honours and the reasons for the honour were available on the citation.
Immigration
Asked about the comments made by the Polish Foreign Minister about immigration and the UK’s child benefit system, the PMS said that the PM had set out his long standing view in a speech on immigration in March last year and that his view had not changed.
Simon Hoggart
Asked for the PM’s reflections on the death of Simon Hoggart, the PMS said that the PM sends his condolences to Mr Hoggart’s friends and loved ones. He added that he is sure that his acerbic wit will be missed by readers, colleagues and politicians.
Spending
Asked whether the cuts announced by the Chancellor today were an agreed coalition position, the PMS reiterated the answer he gave in this morning’s briefing that it was the government’s position to remove the budget deficit by 2017/2018 and that requires consolidation as is set out in the numbers provided by the independent Office of Budget Responsibility and printed in the Treasury’s documents. The tax and spend mix was an issue for future decisions.
Asked if the figures used by the Chancellor boosted the case for Scottish independence, the PMS said that the issues were separate.
Election debate
Asked if the PM had changed his position on the election debates, the PMS said that he hadn’t.
Floods
Asked if there will there be a COBR on floods tomorrow, the PMS said that the government is monitoring the situation and that he would check if another COBR was planned for tomorrow.