Press briefing: afternoon 13 January 2014
The Prime Minister’s Spokesperson (PMS) answered questions on the EU commissioner, EU law and parliamentary portraits.
EU commissioner
Asked to comment on speculation about the UK’s next nomination for EU commissioner, the PMS said that decisions on that role would be made at a later date.
Asked if the UK was seeking a particular position for its new commissioner, the PMS said that the UK would make sure that its best interests were fully represented.
Asked for a timeline on the decision, the PMS said that a decision would be made in due course, and that the current commissioners finished their role this summer.
Asked whether there were any plans for the UK parliament to scrutinise the appointment, the PMS said there were no plans to change how this process had worked in the past.
EU law
Asked if the Prime Minister (PM) agreed with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury’s comments on a UK parliamentary veto on EU law, the PMS said that the PM shared the Foreign Secretary’s view and pointed to his comments.
Parliamentary portraits
Asked if the PM had any view on taxpayers’ money being spent on portraits of parliamentarians, the PMS said that was a matter for a committee of the House.