Geoffrey Norris

Table of contents

1 Blair's Special Advisor for Over a Decade 2 History 3 Closeness to Blair 4 Pro-Nuclear 5 Secret, Unminuted Meetings .. But we Can't Tell you Who it Was 6 We Still Can't Tell You Who it Was or Who he Met 7 .. it was Geoffrey Norris... but we Can't Tell You What was Said 8 External Links

Blair's Special Advisor for Over a Decade

Geoffrey Norris was seen as one of the most crucial advocates of nuclear power with an ear to the Tony Blair when he was Prime Minister. He was a special advisor to Tony Blair on energy and industry and has an association with Labour that goes back to the eighties.

History

From 1992 to November 1994 he advised Robin Cook, MP as Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary and prior to that he advised Cook on Health policy. He then moved to become Industry Policy adviser to Tony Blair when Blair was still leader of the Opposition.

In May 1997, Norris was appointed Blair's Special Advisor responsible for Trade, Industry, Energy, Employment, and Planning. He has stayed close to Blair ever since. ^{[1] (http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/Geoffrey_Norris#endnote_industry)}

Closeness to Blair

Even for Blair's special advisors, Norris is said to be extremely close to Blair. The closeness has wrangled John Prescott who when once asked by the BBC about Norris said: 'Who's (Geoffrey) Norris? Mr Norris is an official in the department. We sometimes call them teenyboppers. You know what I mean?" ^{[2] (http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/Geoffrey_Norris#endnote_times)}

Pro-Nuclear

Norris is said to be pressing the nuclear case extremely hard and along with the Government's Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King, has persuaded Blair to back the need for nuclear.

In March 2005, the Independent on Sunday reported how 'Within government, Geoffrey Norris, Tony Blair's special adviser on industry and business, is pressing the nuclear case. It is understood that he was instrumental in the creation of the DTI's Future for Nuclear team.' One Whitehall source told the paper: 'Norris has fought hard to keep nuclear on the agenda." ^{[3] (http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/Geoffrey_Norris#endnote_inde)}

Secret, Unminuted Meetings .. But we Can't Tell you Who it Was

In response to a Freedom of Information request by NuclearSpin to Number 10 about meetings between Tony Blair, his special advisors and senior civil servants, and the World Nuclear Association, 10 Downing Street replied that:

"I can confirm that we hold information relevant to your request. A senior policy advisor met the World Nuclear Association on 25 January 2006. We do not hold any other information." ^{[4] (http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/Geoffrey_Norris#endnote_wna1)}

The implication of this letter is that one of Blair's special advisors met the WNA, but neither the name of the advisor the person they met, nor agenda could be made public.

We Still Can't Tell You Who it Was or Who he Met

On receipt of the letter, NuclearSpin asked Number 10: "Please can supply me the name of the senior policy advisor involved, the name of the person from the WNA, the date of the meeting, the agenda, and any notes of the meeting."

In January 2007, Number 10 replied that "We do not hold this information." ^{[5] (http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/Geoffrey_Norris#endnote_wna2)}. NuclearSpin asked for an internal review.

.. it was Geoffrey Norris... but we Can't Tell You What was Said

Finally, in March 2007, Howell James, the Permanent Secretary for Government Communication replied that "Our reply to you of 24 January 2007 should have made clear that Geoffrey Norris was the senior policy advisor who met with the World Nuclear Association (WNA) on 25 January 2006. Mr Norris met with John Ritch, the Director General of the WNA".

"However, I am satisfied that the Prime Minister's Office does not hold the additional information you requested (agenda and notes of the meeting) and therefore doubt it would be held by any other public authority". ^{[6] (http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/Geoffrey_Norris#endnote_WNA3)}

So we now know that within days of the Government announcing its first public consultation, Blair's most trusted advisor on nuclear met with John Ritch from the WNA. We do not know what the two men said to each other, we can only guess, but we doubt it was talking about putting up wind-turbines..

External Links

1. ^ The Industry Forum, Geoffrey Norris Biography (http://www.industry-forum.org/biography.cfm?speakerid=43)
2. ^ N. Watt, "Prescott Scathing Over Car Criticism", The Times, May 4, 1998
3. ^ Clayton Hirst, "Secret DTI Team Gives Green Light For 10 New Nuclear Plants, Independent on Sunday, March 27, 2005.
4. ^ Nicholas Howard, Letter to Andy Rowell (http://www.nuclearspin.org/images/c/cc/Wna1.PDF), December 20, 2006
5. ^ Nicholas Howard, Letter to Andy Rowell (http://www.nuclearspin.org/images/d/d1/Wna2.PDF), January 24, 2007
6. ^ Howell James, Letter to Andy Rowell (http://www.nuclearspin.org/images/d/dc/Wn3.PDF), March 5, 2007