Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Education, European Constitution, Prime Minister, Working Peers, Cricket/Zimbabwe and Iraq.
Education
The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS)) drew journalists’ attention to the teacher workforce figures which had been published today. Despite predictions to the contrary, they showed that teaching numbers had increased by 4,200 in the last year and that there were 28,600 more than in 1997. The number of teaching assistants had also doubled since 1997. There were now more teachers in schools than at any time since 1981.
Read the news story ‘More teachers in schools’ on the DfES website (external link)
European Constitution
Asked for a reaction to Valery Giscard D’Estaing’s comment this morning that the UK would not be kicked out of Europe if there was a no vote in the referendum, the PMOS said that M. Giscard D’Estaing was a former chairman of the Convention on the Future of Europe which had now been disbanded. As we had underlined repeatedly, if the Treaty was agreed this summer, the Government would go into the referendum with the intention of winning. If there was a no vote, we would be entering into the unknown and it would therefore be unhelpful to speculate about how the issue might be taken forward.
Asked if the Prime Minister and M. Giscard D’Estaing had discussed in their meeting yesterday how the issue of the UK’s red lines might be resolved, the PMOS said that discussions concerning the Treaty were a matter for the European Presidency, currently held by Ireland. It was up to them to decide whether a deal was possible and if so, how it could be negotiated. Asked if the Prime Minister and M. Giscard D’Estaing had discussed the Treaty, the PMOS said it went without saying that that would have been one of the issues they would have talked about. However, it was important for people to recognise that the Irish Presidency was in the lead on this matter. Asked if the Prime Minister remained hopeful that a deal on the Constitution was achievable, the PMOS said that as we had made clear after the last EU Summit in March, we welcomed the fact that there seemed to be a new momentum in trying to reach a deal and we applauded the efforts of the Irish Presidency. That said, as both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary had indicated, we were not taking the prospect of a deal for granted. Nevertheless, were it to be achieved, we would welcome it because we believed that the Treaty would be in the interests of Europe as a whole, as well as the UK.
Prime Minister
Asked for a reaction to reports that the Prime Minister had despatched senior Cabinet Ministers to crush speculation that he was going to step down, the PMOS said that anyone who had phoned Downing Street Press Officers about this matter last night would have been able to tell from the surprise in their voices what the answer to the question was.
Working Peers
Asked why the publication of the Working Peers List had been delayed, the PMOS said that the List would be announced at the appropriate time. Journalists did not have that much longer to wait.
Cricket/Zimbabwe
Asked what message the Foreign Secretary would give over to cricket chiefs during his meeting with them today, the PMOS said that the cricket chiefs were well aware of the Government’s view on touring Zimbabwe because we had been talking to them continuously throughout this whole issue and updating them on the situation there. The question as to whether they should tour or not was a matter for them. Governments were unable to instruct cricketers, or any other individuals, as to whether to travel to certain countries or not.
Iraq
Asked to comment on reports that British army chiefs were reluctant to send more troops to Iraq either to serve under US commanders or in areas under US control, the PMOS said that as the Prime Minister had underlined several times this week, the issue was kept under constant review. He had nothing further to say as he did not intend to add to the speculation about this matter.
Asked if Cabinet had discussed the issue of Iraq today, the PMOS said no. Asked why not in the light of the current situation there, the PMOS said that Iraq was a subject which was obviously discussed regularly at Cabinet. People were well aware both of the realities on the ground and of the Government’s approach to the issue.
In answer to further questions, the PMOS took the opportunity to point out to journalists that Sir Jeremy Greenstock had responded to the report in today’s Times saying, "I cannot accept what Oliver Miles is quoted as saying. I made clear that I would not sign the letter, not only because of my recent
position but because I disagreed with it. I was not consulted on the final draft. I still believe it is unbalanced and confrontational on the subject of Iraq".
Asked to comment on the fact that several signatories to the letter had been invited to the FCO EU enlargement event last night, the PMOS said that as he had told journalists at yesterday afternoon’s briefing, those on the guest list had included former diplomats and former ministers who had been involved in Europe and European issues.
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