§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions his Press Secretary has briefed Mr. Derek Draper on the Government's position on matters of current concern. [49961]
§ The Prime MinisterThe role of Press Officers at No. 10 is to answer all calls from journalists and to explain Government policy to them in accordance with the rules that apply to the GICS. Mr. Draper has had no briefing from any Press Officer that was not available to any journalist calling the Press Office. No systematic record is kept of the details of the thousands of calls received each week, but any call from Mr. Draper would be dealt with routinely by a Press Officer, rather than the Chief Press Secretary.