Press briefing: morning 17 March 2015
The Prime Minister's Official Spokesperson answered questions about the economy, the National Minimum Wage, immigration and HSBC.
Economy
When asked about the government’s fiscal decisions over the course of the Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesperson (PMOS) said that in dealing with the deficit the government had made difficult decisions, but in a way which clearly demonstrated its priorities, like the protection of the NHS budget for example.
National Minimum Wage
When asked about the rise in the National Minimum Wage, the PMOS said the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage was seeing a double digit rise in percentage terms, significantly above the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation.
Immigration
When asked about immigration the PMOS said the Prime Minister’s position was widely known, in that net migration to the UK was too high; adding that the Prime Minister wanted to see net migration come down.
HSBC
When asked about HSBC’s reported decision to close the Jersey bank accounts of its UK residents, the PMOS said the decision was entirely one for the bank to make, adding that the government’s role was to put in place the appropriate rules and legislation with regard to tax.