Press briefing: afternoon 6 June 2013
The Prime Minister's Spokesperson (PMS) answered questions on the ISC report, economy, Libor and Syria.
Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) report
Asked about the Intelligence and Security Committee’s report on telecommunications and security, the Prime Minister’s spokesman (PMS) said that the Prime Minister accepted the central point of the report. He pointed out that new measures and procedures had since been put in place.
Economy
Responding to a question on whether the economy was recovering, the PMS said the economy was healing. He said that the deficit was down by a third and a million and a quarter new private sector jobs had been created.
Libor
Asked what the government’s reaction would be if London lost its Libor oversight role, the PMS said he would not comment on a leaked document. More widely, he made the point that it had been recognised that benchmark manipulation was a global problem. He said this was why the European Commission had undertaken work around benchmarks. Asked a follow up question on whether the government would prefer Libor to remain in this country, the PMS said it was the UK government that had taken the strong leadership action necessary with regards to the controls that were needed for Libor. He said the government’s agenda in the financial sector was to ensure the UK remained safe, stable, successful and also well regulated.
Syria
Asked whether there would be a recall of Parliament before any action would be taken to arm the Syrian opposition during recess, the PMS said the Prime Minister had set out that he had never been someone who wanted to stand against the House having a say on any of those issues.