Plain packaging for cigarettes
Asked whether plain packaging would be implemented ahead of the election, the PMS said that the government was committed to the implementation of this, we said we would publish the draft regulations and we had, and the right thing to do would be to go through the proper parliamentary process.
Independent investigation into competition in the energy market
Asked whether the Prime Minister welcomed Ofgem commissioning an independent investigation into energy companies, the PMS said that the Prime Minister very much welcomed the announcement. He also pointed out that it was the government who initially asked Ofgem to look into this issue.
Civil partnership
Asked why civil partnerships for straight couples had been vetoed, the PMS responded that this was something that the government had consulted on and the government had taken the decision in line with the responses to the consultation.
Mansion tax
Asked for the PM’s view on a need for a mansion tax and need to cool housing bubble, the PMS responded that the Prime Minister’s views on a mansion tax were the same as the Chancellor’s and hadn’t changed. He added that the Prime Minister believed that the right thing was to have given the Bank of England new powers. The Bank of England had taken action and the Chancellor had welcomed the sign that the new system was working.