STRATEGY UNIT PUBLISHES LONDON REPORT

The final report about London is published today by the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. The report reviews the strategic issues facing London, its role as the UK’s capital and as a world city, and the delivery of long-term central government priorities in the region.

This report is published as a report to government and makes recommendations for further work to be carried out by government. It is not a statement of government policy.

INTERIM CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE

The Prime Minister has approved the interim appointment of William Ehrman as Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee. He will take up this position next month. Speaking in the House of Commons the Prime Minister said this afternoon:

‘There is now an urgent need to fill the post of JIC Chair, given the continuing operational pressures for intelligence assessment. I have therefore asked Mr William Ehrman, who is currently acting as a Deputy Chair, to take over the Chair of the JIC on an interim basis and to be Head of the Intelligence and Security Secretariat until a permanent appointment can be made. Mr Ehrman is at present Director General for Defence and Intelligence in the FCO. He is expected to take up a further Ambassadorial appointment next year. Meanwhile the Cabinet Office will set about the task of making a permanent appointment to take effect during 2005, which will be done fully on the basis of Lord Butler’s criteria.’