Horsemeat
Asked about the government’s action on horsemeat, the PMS said that the PM had met with the Environment Secretary and Health Secretary that morning. The Environment Secretary would update the House that afternoon on developments and have more discussions with ministerial colleagues and European counterparts in coming days. It was important to be clear that there was no evidence of a public health risk and the PM had been clear that the issue was about retailer practice. The FSA had taken the appropriate course of action by asking schools and hospitals to check with their suppliers; the tests being conducted across the food industry would be published. Asked about investigations into the source of the horsemeat, the PMS said that the government would work with authorities across Europe, but national authorities would be leading their respective investigations.
Scotland
Questioned on the PM’s reaction to comments around the legal status of an independent Scotland, the PMS said that the government believed it was important to have published papers on the legal and constitutional issues to inform the independence debate.