Hong Kong
When asked about the Foreign Affairs Select Committee being denied visas to travel to Hong Kong, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesperson (PMOS) said Minister of State Hugo Swire had met with a Chinese Vice-Minister Guo Yezhou in London, as part of a scheduled meeting earlier that day, during which the minister set out the government’s concerns. The PMOS said the minister echoed the Prime Minister’s concerns that the decision was counter-productive and mistaken.
Trade
When asked about trade with countries with a poor record on human rights abuses, the PMOS said companies should always operate within the law, adding that the government routinely raised concerns about human rights with those countries concerned.
Gordon Brown
When asked about reports that the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown was not seeking re-election as an MP in 2015, the PMOS said the Prime Minister wished him well, adding that he was someone who was dedicated to public service and had worked very hard for other people.
Oil prices
When asked for the government’s view on falling oil prices, the PMOS said the Prime Minister welcomed any fall in oil price which led to lower prices on the forecourt.