Reports have appeared in the media regarding a noting of the Private Secretary to the Prime Minister conveying the directions of the Prime Minister on a matter relating to the allocation of spectrum. The noting in question was recorded on 23 January, 2008 and stated that 'PM wants this informally shared with the Department (of Telecom). (He) does not want a formal communication and wants PMO to be at arms length.'
2. A number of unwarranted inferences have been drawn from this noting without considering the issue that was being examined and the context in which these directions were conveyed. In particular, an impression is sought to be created that the noting was in response to the Prime Minister being informed of steps being taken which he knew were inappropriate but he looked the other way.
3. The note of the Prime Minister's Office, on which the above noting was recorded, proposed consideration of an approach as follows: