Immigration
Asked if the government accepted the EU Commission’s claim that there was no evidence the UK benefits system was a pull factor for migrants, the PMS said there were important concerns around fairness of access to public services, such as healthcare and housing, which the government was addressing through the Immigration Bill. He said the Department of Health was investigating the impact of migrant access to the NHS, and the UK was also one of a number of EU countries looking at tightening the habitual residency test, which was why various member states had met in the UK earlier this year.
Jimmy Savile enquiry
Asked if the Prime Minister had a comment on the widening of the Jimmy Savile enquiry, the PMS said the PM echoed the words of the Health Secretary.