Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Health, Private Members FOI Bill, Eurofighter and Scotland
Health
Asked if Patricia Hewitt’s speech implied that she would be in charge of the NHS for the next 10 years, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) replied that this was just a different kind of reshuffle question, and one that he would not be involved in, so best to leave it there.
Asked if the Prime Minister agreed with Patricia Hewitt that there should be no NHS Board, the PMOS replied that the Prime Minister agreed that first and foremost a lot of energy and commitment had been devoted to making sure that the decision making process was as near to the front line as was possible. That was why so many of the financial controls had been devolved to the front line. In terms of Parliamentary accountability, those were real issues that had to be addressed, and which could not be ducked.
Private Members FOI Bill
Asked if the Government was now prepared to adopt the Private Members FOI Bill, the PMOS replied that this was a matter for Parliament.
Eurofighter
Asked if an agreement had been reached with Saudi Arabia on the next phase of the Eurofighter, the PMOS replied that he would not be commenting on this as it was a commercial matter.
Scotland
Put to him that Alex Salmond had now had a response from the Government on Libya prisoner transfer, but that this had come from the Lord Chancellor not the Prime Minister, and asked why the Prime Minister could not bring himself to make contact with the First Minister, the PMOS replied that it was highly usual for relevant Government Ministers to reply to letters from devolved administrations. It was a matter of almost daily occurrence. Let’s not pretend there was anything unusual in that. Secondly, as had been said before, there was no doubt that there would be communication at the appropriate time on the appropriate issue. But it was right and proper that the appropriate Minister within Government replied to letters.
Asked if there would be contact before the Prime Minister left office, the PMOS replied that this was in hypothetical territory. We addressed issues as and when they happened
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