Morning press briefing from 30 January 2008
Briefing from the Prime Minister's Spokesman on: Governor of the Bank of England, migration, Yusuf al-Qaradawi, MPs allowances, ISC and EU Leaders Summit
Governor of the Bank of England
Asked why Mervyn King had been given a second term in the Prime Minister's view, the Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) replied that we had always made clear that it was the Prime Minister's view that Mervyn King had been a first rate Governor to the Bank of England in his first term, and on that basis he had been re-appointed.
Asked why the Prime Minister and the Government were opposed to a single-term Governor, the PMS replied that the Government had introduced legislation in 1998 to this effect, Mervyn King had been a first rate Governor of the Bank of England, and on that basis the Government thought that there was a case for him being re-appointed.
Asked for more details on the re-appointment process, and were any others considered, the PMS replied that we would not be getting into the detail of exactly what the internal Government processes were on appointments of this nature. But we had always made clear that it was the Prime Minister and the Chancellor's view that Mervyn King was a first rate Governor of the Bank of England.
Asked if the appointment of the Deputy Governor was a government appointment, and when would this happen, the PMS replied that when we had an announcement to make on the Deputy Governor re-appointment, we would make that announcement. But there would be no announcement on that today.
Asked for the Prime Minister's view on the Treasury Committee report that talked about the Deputy Governors role, the PMS replied that this was a question for the Treasury.
Asked if the re-appointment could be seen as an endorsement over Mervyn King's handling of Northern Rock, the PMS replied that it was the Prime Minister's view that Mervyn King has been, and is, a first rate Governor of the Bank of England, and that was why he had been re-appointed.
Asked if the Prime Minister had complete confidence in the Deputy Governor, the PMS replied that he did.
Migration
Asked if the Prime Minister was concerned about the impact of migration on maternity services, the PMS replied that this matter was something that the Migration Impact Forum was looking at. The Government had already announced an expansion in maternity services in recent months and recent years. We did recognise the importance of understanding the impact of migration on communities, and that was why we set up the migration impact forum. But we should also remember that the vast majority of migrants made a positive contribution to the economy and pay taxes as well.
Yusuf al-Qaradawi
Asked if the Prime Minister had a view on whether Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi should be granted a visa, the PMS replied that this was a matter for the Home Office.
MPs' Allowances
Asked if the Prime Minister had a view on MPs' secretarial allowances, the PMS replied that this was a matter for the House.
ISC
Put that the Prime Minister had wanted the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) to be more accountable to Parliament, and asked why he did not take the opportunity following the vacancy created in the chair by Paul Murphy moving to be Secretary of State for Wales to reform the Committee, the PMS replied that the vacancy arose in the chairmanship of the ISC at short notice following the reshuffle last week so the Prime Minister did not want to be in the position where we did not have a chair of this important committee for any length of time. In relation to wider reforms, this was all being considered as part of the constitutional reform agenda that was being taken forward and coordinated by Jack Straw.
EU Leaders' Summit
Asked what was discussed at the dinner following the EU leaders' summit last night, the PMS replied that it was a private dinner so he would not be getting into any detail. They had a general discussion about the reform of the global institutions, and a brief conversation about Iran.
Asked if they considered if the time was right for Britain to join the Euro, the PMS replied that this subject did not come up. Asked why in an economic discussion between the five leading figures in Europe this issue did not come up, the PMS replied that nobody was proposing British membership of Euro. Asked if the Prime Minister was afraid to mention it, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister's views on this matter are long established and well known.
Asked if the Prime Minister had any words of sympathy for Mr Prodi, the PMS replied that obviously this came up, but these were private discussions.
Asked where we went from here with the proposals, what were the next steps and how would we take them forward, the PMS replied that the next step was to have further discussions with our G8 partners in the first instance. There would be a meeting of G8 finance Ministers in Tokyo next week, and would be an opportunity to take forward some of the discussions from yesterday's meeting.
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