Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Iran, Drug Testing in Schools, Guantanamo Bay, Council Tax/Pensions, EU Accession States/Immigration and Bin Laden.
Iran
Asked the Government’s view on the Iranian elections the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS), said that the Foreign Secretary had said this morning on the way into the GAERC in Brussels that the elections were flawed, in light of the fact that a large number of candidates were prevented from standing. Asked why, given that we already knew the elections were being undermined, we had allowed Prince Charles to go to Iran recently, the PMOS said that no one disputed that Iran had made considerable progress towards greater political freedom in the last ten years, although clearly this was a set back. It had been made clear at the time of Prince Charles’ visit that it had not been a political visit as such, but humanitarian in the wake of the terrible earthquake at Bam.
Drug Testing in Schools
Asked if the Prime Minister believed he had the support of most head teachers for the Government’s proposals for random drug testing in schools, the PMOS said that clearly there had been some comment from organisations representing teachers over the weekend. The Prime Minister did believe he had the support of parents in tackling the menace of drugs. It was important to recognise what this policy was and what it wasn’t. It was something we had been working on for some time, and guidance would be out shortly - next month. It was the result of extensive consultation with the teaching profession, the police and those working in the field. This was a discretionary power. We were not saying that all children would have to be tested at the same time as the school register was taken, which was how this had been interpreted in some quarters. This was about giving head teachers the option, where they felt that such powers would be beneficial, to use them. This was an extension of the Government’s desire to tackle the issue of drugs in schools. For example in 2002 we introduced guidance for "one-strike-and-you’re-out" for students found dealing drugs on school premises. There were now a number of police officers attached to schools, working with them 5 days a week. The Government had also put a significant investment into drugs training for teachers. The decisions to act would quite rightly sit with schools but the Prime Minister believed it was right that we gave head teachers the powers that they might find useful. Asked if it was workable given the implications of permission, the PMOS said that we should wait for the guidance on this, but clearly this was something which had been put together in consultation with the teaching profession, the police and those working in the field. It was not falling on them from a clear blue sky courtesy of SW1. We were working in partnership with them.
Asked if the Government was sending mixed-messages over drugs given that Cannabis was being re-classified for adults, but there was a crackdown on children, the PMOS said that in relation to Cannabis, what we had been saying was that there were clearly finite resources in respect of the fight against drugs and it was important those resources were targeted at the drugs that did most damage. It was right to acknowledge that Cannabis was not the same as Amphetamine for example. People working in the drugs field acknowledged that. That was not to say that Cannabis was legal. It was not. Clearly however when there was a change from category B to category C there would be some static around the place and the Government would continue to explain its policy. In respect of schools however much we would like to believe that as a society the classroom was immune to the menace of drugs that was not the reality. It was important that we put in place measures that gave head teachers the powers to tackle the problem. Asked if there would be similar categorisation of drugs in schools with respect to punishment, the PMOS said that we should wait and see what the guidance said but clearly the Government had already recognised that there was a difference in terms of schools between drug dealing and drug use.
Guantanamo Bay
Asked if there would be a Parliamentary statement on the release of the five detainees, the PMOS said that it was not impossible Jack Straw would reprise his statement of last week to the House. Clearly he was in Brussels today.
Asked why it was taking a while to transfer prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to the UK, the PMOS said as we had acknowledged over many weeks. There were real issues of detail which had to be worked through. Some of those issues were still being processed, so he could not be any clearer concerning the timing of the return. As the Foreign Secretary had said last week, both the UK and the US had agreed that five people would be returned within the next few weeks. There had been very detailed discussion between the two administrations and it was a very complex process. Asked if they would be taken into custody as soon as they got back, the PMOS said it would be for the police to consider what the appropriate procedures should be. It was a matter for the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, and best left to them.
Asked if the Prime Minister shared the view of President Bush that these were "bad people", the PMOS said that the Prime Minister believed that these were individuals who were picked up in a particularly unique situation - post 9-11-2001 and in Afghanistan. There had been discussion between the UK and the US in relation to how they were dealt with. We had always been clear that they should be tried in accordance with international standards or returned to the UK. The Prime Minister was pleased that the issue was being resolved in respect of these five individuals. Asked if the Prime Minister regarded them as innocent, the PMOS said that that was a matter for the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Council Tax/Pensions
Asked for a view on the issues concerning the case of a pensioner who had refused to pay her council tax, the PMOS said as he understood it, those living on the basic state pension alone should be entitled to pensioner credit and people in those circumstances should also be entitled to some rebate on their Council Tax. The Government was aware that there were over a million pensioners entitled to some relief on their Council Tax who were not claiming it, which was why there would be a campaign next month to encourage people to apply for it. Asked about the particular case, the PMOS said it was up to the individual concerned to find out what her entitlements were, in conjunction with the authorities in the area.
EU Accession States/Immigration
Asked why Accession state citizens should be treated any differently from any other members of the European Union, the PMOS said it was best to wait for the Home Secretary’s statement this afternoon. Asked when the final decision about the strategy had been taken, the PMOS said that there had been a meeting last Tuesday where the final details were worked out and it was agreed that David Blunkett would make a statement today as we had announced at the time. Asked if the strategy had been cleared with Brussels, the PMOS said he was sure we would not be doing anything incompatible with any obligations we might have. Asked what the principle behind the statement would be, the PMOS said that everyone was aware of the issues involved. There were issues in relation to the fact that there was free movement of citizens in the enlarged European Union. There were issues in relation to people coming to the UK as "Benefit Tourists" and making sure people didn’t abuse the benefits system here. There were issues in relation to people working here. He didn’t think he was telling journalists anything they did not know already but they only had a few more hours to wait until the statement.
Bin Laden
Asked for an update on the search for Osama Bin Laden, the PMOS said that that it remained active.
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