Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 December 2009.

Today’s Pre-Budget Report shows the Government is committed to growth and supporting families and frontline services, the Prime Minister has said.

In a message following the Chancellor’s speech to the House of Commons today, Gordon Brown said Government’s priorities were to secure economic recovery, halve the deficit and protect the services people rely on.

He added that the Pre-Budget Report had also sent a clear message to the banks about the consequences of paying big cash bonuses.

The PM said:

“Today we set out our three-point plan for Britain’s future. Our priorities are securing the recovery and going for growth; making the tough choices necessary to halve the deficit in four years; and putting frontline services first.

“All the measures are underpinned by our core values – those values we share with you – of fairness and responsibility. Our actions so far have helped keep you in your jobs and homes, protected your savings and kept many small businesses afloat. And we have prevented recession turning to depression.

“But the recovery is still fragile and so we will continue our support until it is secured – to do otherwise would be reckless and dangerous. And as we emerge from recession, we will make sure we lock in economic growth by giving businesses room to flourish and by investing in new green technologies to make the most of the enormous potential of a low carbon economy.

“Strong growth will be vital to getting the public finances back in shape. But on its own it won’t be enough to meet our commitment, which we are enshrining in law, to halve the deficit in four years. That will mean fair taxes – and by fair we mean that those most able to pay will pay the most – ruthless efficiencies by Whitehall, and tough decisions to make cuts to some budgets and scrap some programmes no longer needed. But I assure you that all along we will protect schools, Sure Start centres, and frontline NHS and policing – those essential services which we all pay for and all need at times.

“The global economic crisis, which began with a catastrophic failure in the banking sector, has hit many hard through no fault of their own. So today was also important because we sent a clear message to the banks: that if they insist on paying big cash bonuses there will be consequences.

“The biggest risk for Britain is a decade of austerity – of limited growth, limited employment and limited opportunity. The Pre-Budget Report shows that we are a government committed to growth, living within our means and at all times supporting you, your families and those services on which you rely.”

The press release issued by the Department for International Trade on 10 December 2009.

Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have called for a “global compact” to regulate the banking sector and ensure financial institutions are operating on a level playing field across the world.

Writing in the Wall Street Journal ahead of the European Council meeting today, the two leaders said the compact should recognise the risks to taxpayers if banks fail and the imbalance between risks and rewards in the banking system.

They added that a one-off tax on bank bonuses should be considered as a priority as this year’s bonuses had arisen partly because of governments bailing out banks.

They said:

“We propose a long term global compact that will encapsulate both the responsibilities of the banking system and the risk they pose to the economy as a whole. Various proposals have been put forward and deserve examination. They include resolution funds, insurance premiums, financial transaction levies and a tax on bonuses.

“Among these proposals, we agree that a one-off tax in relation to bonuses should be considered a priority due to the fact that bonuses for 2009 have arisen partly because of government support for the banking system.”

The Prime Minister and President Sarkozy will be among the European leaders taking part in the two-day European Council meeting, which begins today in Brussels.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 10 December 2009.

Gordon Brown and Health Secretary Andy Burnham today spoke of their five-year plans for the NHS during a visit to King’s College Hospital in London.

Mr Burnham today launched a new strategy document which lays out plans for the NHS until 2015 and includes a greater emphasis on patient choice, particularly for those with serious long-term conditions.

The Prime Minister said that plans focused on “making the health service far more personal to people’s needs” and “giving people the security to know the health service is always there when they need it”.

The strategy document ‘NHS 2010-2015: from good to great. Preventative, people-centred, productive,’ includes:

• A greater emphasis on patient satisfaction
• Increased out-of-hours access to GPs
• One-to-one carers and health professionals for patients with serious long-term conditions
• The ability for patients with terminal conditions to choose where they spend their final days
• Improved job security for frontline staff
• The ability for the best hospitals to extend their reach through their local community via GPs
• More control and choice for patients over the care they receive
• Legislation to limit waiting times, particularly for cancer treatment
• NHS Health Checks for all patients between 40 and 74 by April 2012

During the hospital visit, Gordon Brown and Andy Burnham met staff working in a haematology unit where doctors are using pioneering techniques to treat patients with blood cancers.

The Health Secretary said of the plans:

“For the NHS to become truly great, it must become more preventative and people-centred … This means top quality care is our goal and patient safety our top priority. This is right for our times. Quality care is not always about spending more money, but about spending it in the right places. Moving care from hospitals into homes and communities is better for patients and more efficient.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 10 December 2009.

Gordon Brown has announced the appointment of six new Business Ambassadors to help promote UK industry abroad.

They will join an existing 18 Ambassadors and will be responsible for promoting key business areas such as Life Sciences, Information and Communications Technology, the Creative Industries and the Low Carbon Industries.

The Business Ambassadors Network was launched in 2008, specifically to provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises, which traditionally face greater challenges promoting themselves internationally than their larger counterparts.

The Prime Minister said of the network:

“Since the UK Business Ambassadors network was set up just over a year ago, its members have carried out over 70 international engagements in some 25 different markets, promoting British trade across the globe and playing an important role in championing UK business.

“I am delighted that a further six leaders from business and academia will be joining the team, promoting our businesses and working with them to develop opportunities worldwide and boost growth.”

The new Business Ambassadors are:

•           Chris Brinsmead, Chairman, Astra Zeneca UK
•           Lord Ara Darzi, Professor, Imperial College and Former Health Minister
•           Larry Hirst, Chairman, IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa
•           Lady Barbara Judge, Chairman, UK Atomic Energy Authority
•           Professor Julia King, Vice-Chancellor Aston University; author, King Review of low carbon transport
•           Sir John Sorrell, Chairman, London Design Festival; co-Chair, Sorrell Foundation

The press release issued by the Department of Trade on 10 December 2009.

The Prime Minister has said the UK and France are working closely together on a range of issues from climate change to curbing bank bonuses.

Gordon Brown held talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy before the start of an EU summit in Brussels.

Earlier today the two leaders set out their shared aims on the economy in a joint article in the Wall Street Journal and called for a “long-term global compact” to regulate the banking sector.

Speaking after the meeting, the PM said:

“When you talk about climate change, about international development, about what we are doing about the recovery and, today, about bank bonuses and the scale of them, the common ground (between the UK and France) has been proven by what actions we have taken together.”

Both leaders said in their article today that a one-off tax on bank bonuses should be considered by governments as a priority. It follows the Chancellor’s announcement in the Pre-Budget Report on Wednesday that a one-off levy on bank bonuses over £25,000 would be used to pay for measures to help the young and older unemployed back into work.

The PM said:

“I think the French agreement to support what we are doing on one-off bonuses is very important. There is a one-off National Insurance Premium to be paid by the City, and that will happen in France as well. I believe other countries will now want to look at it and we have also an agreement in the international community to look at the relationship between banks and the service they owe to society.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 11 December 2009.

Britain and France have agreed to work for an ambitious deal in Copenhagen which would keep global warming to within two degrees and enable the EU to reduce its emissions by 30 per cent by 2020.

In a joint press conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the European Council in Brussels, Gordon Brown said the two leaders are also pushing for a “fast-start launch fund” to help developing countries adapt to the effects of climate change.

The Prime Minister said Britain will provide at least £1.5billion over the next three years to this fund.

The two leaders released a joint statement setting out their ambitions for the Copenhagen summit, including goals to reduce deforestation.

The PM said:

“This is the time for more than words – it is the time for action, backed up by strong commitments. It is strong commitments that President Sarkozy and I are making here today.”

Speaking through an interpreter, President Sarkozy said:

“France and Britain want an agreement with a draw down of 30 per cent on emissions by 2020. We are the two countries that are spearheading Europe, pushing Europe to achieve this high-flying, far sighted and ambitious goal.”

The press release issued by Downing Street on 11 December 2009.

Britain will provide £1.5 billion towards a three-year fund to help the poorest countries adapt to the effects of climate change, the Prime Minister has announced.

The money will form part of a £6.5 billion “fast start” fund agreed by EU leaders at a European Council meeting in Brussels today.

In a press conference following the summit, Gordon Brown also confirmed that the EU will offer to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2020 if other countries are willing to commit to ambitious reductions at the Copenhagen climate conference.

The PM said:

“Britain’s contribution is one that we are proud we are making, and that is $800 million or £500 million a year. That makes it possible for the poorest countries to come to the table knowing that they can mitigate carbon emissions and adapt to climate change.”

The PM said he and other EU leaders would do “everything in our power” to secure an ambitious deal at the UN summit in Copenhagen, which concludes next week.

He said:

“I believe there is goodwill now, that there is a determination that things move forward. Obviously we are hoping that other countries respond to the generous offers that Europe has made but we look forward to a successful outcome.”

Earlier, the Prime Minister released a joint statement with French President Nicolas Sarkozy committing the UK and France to work together for an ambitious deal in Copenhagen which would keep global warming to within two degrees.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 December 2009.

The Prime Minister has said the best policy for economic recovery in Britain is greater investment in the future.

In his latest podcast, Gordon Brown said the Pre-Budget Report has laid out a plan for encouraging growth and employment in the years ahead, and the Government was prepared to make the “tough choices necessary” to halve the deficit and protect frontline services.

The PM said the Government would focus on greater investment in highly-skilled jobs and infrastructure.

The plans will be put into action in the coming week with the opening of the first high-speed railway line in the UK. And the Government will launch the Back to Work White Paper which aims to create and support “thousands of new jobs and opportunities” for young people.

“We are a Government committed both to growth and jobs and to a better future for you and your family.

“Britain has been through a difficult year, but I am confident that this Pre-Budget Report and the policies we are announcing in the next week mean we are able to look forward to a stronger, more prosperous Britain in the years to come.”

Mr Brown said some people, especially the wealthiest, would be asked to contribute more in the future: “But in return we are able to guarantee a plan for growth that safeguards our schools, our police and our NHS.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 December 2009.

The Prime Minister has visited Afghanistan this weekend where he has met British forces and held talks with President Karzai and Afghan authorities.

Gordon Brown stayed overnight at Kandahar Airfield, the coalition headquarters for the region.

During the visit, the PM was briefed by senior military staff in Kandahar as well as meeting troops and inspecting new equipment purchased in recent months.

The Prime Minister later flew to Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province, where the bulk of the UK’s troops are based.

At a joint press conference with the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, Gordon Brown said the rising level of British troops was being met by increases in equipment, including helicopters and IED surveillance devices.

“We have ramped up our counter-IED efforts to give the best protection possible to our troops on the ground.”

The PM said the plan was to continue to weaken the Taliban and to strengthen the Afghan authorities.

“I think the next few months are obviously critical. We need to show there support for our forces back in Britain, which I know there is, and a determination to take on the Taliban.”

Gordon Brown thanked troops for their “bravery, professionalism and dedication” in what he described as a difficult year. And he paid tribute to service personnel who would be apart from loved ones over Christmas.

It is the Prime Minister’s third visit to Afghanistan this year.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 December 2009.

Gordon Brown called the Javelin train’s first weekday journey, “a momentous day in the long and glorious history of British railways” during the official launch of the UK’s first domestic high-speed rail service at St Pancras International station this morning.

The new Southeastern Rail service, which runs from London to Kent, can reach speeds of up to 140 mph and will mean a reduction of journey times from up to 69 minutes for commuters.

The Prime Minister said that investment in high-speed rail networks would continue, and that the Government would publish plans by the end of March for a North-South network. He also said that Transport Secretary Lord Adonis would announce the electrification of rail lines between Manchester and Liverpool and Preston later today:

“I know some people who think this is not the time to be investing in infrastructure but I believe it is essential to do so and we will be investing £20 billion in our rail infrastructure in the next few years.”

Mr Brown was joined by Lord Adonis and Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes after whom the train taking its maiden voyage was named.
Lord Adonis said of the new era in UK train travel:

“These fantastic new services, made possible by the government’s investment in this £5.8bn high-speed new line, are changing the transport map of Kent.

“Journey times have shrunk dramatically, bringing regeneration and new opportunities for investment.

“This shows the potential of high-speed rail and we now must consider what it can do for the rest of the country.”