Press briefing: morning 20 November 2013
The Prime Minister’s Spokesperson (PMS) answered questions on army reservists, a Good Friday amnesty, Gibraltar and the Co-op.
Army reservists
Asked what the Prime Minister (PM) would say to MPs ahead of the amendment vote on army reservists, the PMS said the PM would underline the points made by the Defence Secretary in his letter and in the media earlier that morning. The plan in place was the right one, and the government was confident the plan would deliver sufficient numbers of reserves to support an army of over 80,000 regular troops.
Good Friday amnesty
Asked about the Northern Ireland Attorney General’s comments on a prosecutions amnesty, the PMS said that decisions around prosecutions were a matter for the police and prosecuting authorities based on evidence they had collected.
Gibraltar
Asked about increasing military presence on Gibraltar, the PMS said the UK already had service men and women stationed in Gibraltar. The government would always stand behind Gibraltar’s territorial integrity.
Co-op
Asked about the Co-op and the role of Paul Flowers, the PMS said that significant questions had emerged regarding the Co-op Bank and the role of its leadership. There were a number of ways in which these questions could be raised and looked at. The immediate focus was on the financial situation the Co-op Bank was in, which had resulted in significant regulatory intervention.