Number 10 Press Briefing - Afternoon From 26 January 2011
From the Prime Minister's spokesperson on: Economy, Egypt and Peers.
Economy
Asked if the Prime Minister agreed with Ken Clarke that it could take two or three years to secure the economic recovery, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) told the assembled press that he had not seen the Justice Secretary’s words. The PMS said that what was certainly true was that the economy was hit by a large shock.
As the Prime Minister had said in PMQs, we had experienced a financial crisis and a big fall in output. The PMS said that it would normally take some years through the forecast before the economy returned to trend levels.
Egypt
Asked if the Prime Minister had a view on what was happening in Egypt, the PMS replied that the Foreign Secretary had put out a statement on the situation.
Peers
Asked if the Prime Minister met with cross-bench Peers today, the PMS said that there was a meeting earlier today and no doubt, recent events in the Lords were one of the things discussed.
On whether the Prime Minister urged peers to back a guillotine for the AV Bill, the PMS replied that he was sure the Prime Minister would have set out the Government’s position on the issue.
Asked if the Prime Minister had set out a course of action in order to break the impasse, the PMS replied that it was for the Lords to come to a judgement.
Asked how far off proposals were on the reform of the Lords, the PMS replied that he did not think there was specific timetable set out yet, but it was something the Cabinet Office would look at after the current proposals.
Asked if there was still a fear that the AV Bill could not be passed in time, the PMS replied that the Government was looking at its options; we hoped to progress according to the timetable we had set out.