Press briefing: afternoon 9 January 2014
The Prime Minister’s Spokesperson (PMS) answered questions on a free school, minimum wage and climate change.
Free school
Asked if the Prime Minister (PM) had any comment on the arrest of a headteacher at a Yorkshire free school which the Department for Education (DFE) had reported to the police, the PMS said that this was a matter for the police, but DFE may be able to provide background following their earlier involvement.
Minimum wage
Asked whether the PM was concerned about the comments made by Cabinet colleagues on the national minimum wage, the PMS said the government had been consistently clear that it was for the independent Low Pay Commission to make recommendations on the level for the minimum wage.
Climate change
Asked whether the PM was surprised about the Environment Secretary’s comments about a link between flooding and climate change, the PMS said that he had not discussed Defra questions with the PM.
Asked who spoke for the government on this issue, the PMS said that the Secretary of State had been pointing to the comments made by the PM about investment in flood defences.