Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman on: Burma, Capital Gains Tax and Misc
Burma
Asked whether the Prime Minister had spoken to the campaigners who delivered the petition earlier that day, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) told the assembled press that there had been a brief discussion and the Prime Minister was able to listen to some of their concerns. He pointed again to the statement the Prime Minister had issued earlier in the day.
Capital Gains Tax
Asked about Capital Gains Tax and whether the Government had any sympathy with the idea of some kind of exemption or transitional relief for small businesses, the PMS said that the Chancellor had set out his decision on the matter in the Pre-Budget Report last week. It was a major simplification of the Capital Gains Tax regime, but for detailed questions it would probably be best to speak to the Treasury. Asked what the No. 10 view of the subject was, the PMS said that the view was that the Government had done a huge amount to help small businesses and to help the small business sector over the last ten years.
Misc
Asked to comment on stories suggesting the Prime Minister was considering blocking donations to local parties, the PMS replied that there was an ongoing review of these matters being undertaken by Hayden Phillips and that was how the issue was being considered.
Asked if the Government was expecting a working peers list soon, the PMS said he had not seen anything to suggest that might be the case, but he would check. Asked whether the list for Tony Blair’s retirement honours had been completed, the PMS replied that he had no information on the subject.
Asked if there was any reaction to comments made by Gisela Stewart regarding an EU referendum, the PMS replied that people knew what the Government’s position was on an EU referendum and this had not changed. Asked if the Prime Minister had any reaction to Stuart’s comment of him "lacking veracity," the PMS said that Gisela Stuart had set out her views on a referendum many times before, so none of this was a great surprise.
Asked if the Prime Minister would be the only Scot cheering on England on Saturday and did he know the words to "Swing Low, sweet chariot," the PMS replied that he would swim past that particular piece of bait.
Asked for more details on the Digital Switchover happening on Wednesday, the PMS replied that people should check with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, but that this was the first stage of the UK’s Digital TV switchover.
Asked if there would be a Chinese-British Summit before the end of the year, the PMS said that it would not necessarily be before the end of the year. Put that the previous Prime Minister had instituted an annual summit and would it therefore be missed in 2007, the PMS said that he would check what the facts were and when and where previous summits had taken place.
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