Number 10 Press Briefing - Afternoon From 7Th December 2011
From the Prime Minister's spokesperson on pay day loans and Europe.
Pay Day Loans
Asked whether the Prime Minister (PM) had concerns about the regulation of pay day lenders, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS), told the assembled media that there were concerns about the way these companies operate and that Government was working with consumer organisations and the industry to ensure vulnerable people were properly protected.
Asked for further detail on Government’s plans, the PMS said that the objective was to introduce a Code of Practice. He said the process was not straightforward and needed to be carefully planned so changes would not reduce people’s access to credit or drive them towards loan sharks.
Put that the Government might look to drive change through banks where it was a shareholder, the PMS replied that those banks operate at arms length but that Project Merlin was put in place to improve the flow of money to businesses and to families.
Asked whether a cap on interest rates for pay day loans might be introduced, the PMS said that Government was working with consumer organisations and the industry to find a way forwards.
Asked about cuts to credit unions, said that Government supported the work of credit unions as a trusted alternative and said that the Department for Work and Pensions would shortly be reporting on how this support could be taken further.
Europe
Asked about EU negotiations, the PMS said that the PM had set out the Government’s position. He said that there needed to be better fiscal discipline and co-ordination in the Eurozone in order to promote confidence and underpin stability. He said that action was also needed to address underlying issues of competitiveness.
Asked about wider discussions, the PMS said that lots of discussions and debates were taking place and the Government would approach all of these in the same way: looking for ways to further our national interest.
Put that there appeared to be a change of heart about holding a referendum, the PMS said this was not the case.
Asked to explain safeguards for the city, the PMS said he would not go into specifics or set out the PM’s negotiating position before the talks took place. He said it was clear what needed to be done and the way to approach negotiations was to be practical and focussed, there were clearly a number of options.