Press briefing: morning 4 August 2014
The Prime Minister's Spokesperson (PMS) answered questions on WW1 commemorations, Ebola, the Help to Buy scheme and Gaza-Israel.
WW1 commemorations
When asked about the various memorial services taking place, the PMS said that the Prime Minister thinks it is important to use the centenary events to remember those who died, those who were injured and those that made huge sacrifices in WW1. Additionally, we should ensure that future generations continue to learn lessons.
Ebola
Asked about the Ebola outbreak, the PMS said we are closely monitoring it and that the Foreign Secretary chaired a cross-government meeting to ensure that we have all the systems and contingency plans in place to deal with any cases. She added that there continues to be regular official-level meetings on the matter and that currently there are no reports of British citizens affected or cases in the UK.
Help to Buy
Asked about the Help to Buy scheme, the PMS said it has helped many first-time buyers to get onto the property market. The government is remaining vigilant about the scheme and the Chancellor has asked the Financial Policy Committee to monitor it.
Gaza-Israel
When asked about the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the PMS said that the Prime Minister has repeatedly called for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire and for the Israelis to exercise restraint and do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties. The PMS added that the loss of life in Gaza was appalling and that the Prime Minister has stated that the quickest way to stop the conflict is for Hamas, who are targeting civilians, to stop the indiscriminate attacks. There have been over 3,200 rockets fired by Hamas into Israel since the start of the conflict. Finally, she stressed the need for Palestinian and Israeli leaders to find a way forward to lasting peace.