Slavery

Asked to comment on the slavery case in south London, the PMS said it was an utterly appalling case. It showed the importance of ensuring such cases were brought into the open, which was why the government was taking the Modern Slavery Bill through the House.

Co-op

Asked whether the Prime Minister thought HM Treasury had questions to answer over its involvement in Co-op Bank bidding for Lloyds branches, the PMS said the Co-op’s bondholders and clients wanted to know why it got into financial difficulty – including questions around its leadership. The Chancellor was in discussion with regulators about the appropriate form of inquiry.

Immigration

Asked about the immigration of Romanians and Bulgarians, the PMS said the government was ensuring welfare rules were not abused and was taking the Immigration Bill through the House.