Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Sports Fund, Captain Warwick Strong, High Court/Baha Mousa case, Army, Budd Report and EU Talks.
Sports Fund
Asked if the £500 million allocated for extending sport was new money, or was it out of existing pot, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said the journalist should ask the DCMS for further details regarding funding. What was important, however, was what it would achieve was a major extension of sport in schools.
Captain Warwick Strong
Asked if Captain Warwick Strong’s passport issues that had been highlighted in the media had been resolved, the PMOS said the department was aware of the situation, and he was sure there would be a common sense solution, but he could not comment on an individual case.
High Court/Baha Mousa case
Asked about the ruling by the High Court for the Government to hold an inquiry into the death of Iraqi Baha Mousa, the PMOS pointed out that the Government had won 5 out of the 6 cases. He also said that a separate criminal case was being considered by the Army Prosecution Authority, and therefore could not comment further for obvious legal reasons.
Asked if the Government took the same "scathing" view as the judges that Iraq was not yet ready to have the European Convention on Human Rights applied, the PMOS asked the journalist if he really expected him to comment on a current court case that may go to appeal.
Army
Asked if there was any further news on when the Army restructuring announcement might be made, the PMOS replied that it would probably be towards the end of the week.
Budd Report
Asked if there was new information on the Budd Inquiry, the PMOS said it was a matter for Sir Alan Budd, but his hunch was that nothing would happen this week.
Asked if the Budd Report might come out when either the Prime Minister would be away, or the House would have risen, the PMOS said again that the timing was entirely down to Sir Alan Budd to decide.
EU Talks
Asked if the Prime Minister would be pressing his "three Turkish Delights" on Chancellor Schroeder later, the PMOS in turn asked if the journalist was referring to a newspaper article in "The Guardian", and if so, then the line on the article was "it was nonsense". The PMOS said it was very clear what the government’s position on Turkey was. We were in favour of negotiations beginning in 2005, and the Commission Report of 6th October had said that Turkey fulfilled the Copenhagen Criteria, and therefore we believed it should be followed through.
Asked if the latter half of 2005 would be seen as a delay to the proceedings, when it was discussed that proceeding should be started as soon as possible, the PMOS replied that what was important was there should be a firm commitment to negotiations beginning. The rest was detail that could be sorted.
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