An assessment of the impact on Reservists and Employers of introducing new regulations providing for financial assistance awards is published for public consultation today.   

The Government will waive probate fees for families of tsunami victims and help cut through legal red tape so financial affairs are settled quickly, Constitutional Affairs Secretary Lord Falconer announced...

Chris Mullin, the Foreign Office Minister for Africa is visiting Nigeria from 26 January to 2 February 2005.   

Asked about the Prime Minister's comments about the handover of control after the Iraqi General Election, and the withdrawal of troops from various areas, the PMS said the Prime Minister was setting out a timeline...

Asked about an article in today's Times that said the Government was going to offer "sweeteners" to Shanghai Automobile Operation to allow them to help MG Rover, the PMS said the journalist should speak ...

Asked for further information about the article in the Financial Times regarding incapacity benefit, the Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) repeated what the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman had said earlier that...

Briefing from the Prime Minister's on: Incapacity Benefit, MG Rover and Iraq Handover.

Asked to comment on the article in the Financial Times about incapacity benefit, the PMOS said that as he had said yesterday the best thing was for people to wait for the five-year welfare plan which would be published...

Put to him that the issues surrounding the legal status of the detainees at Belmarsh prison could be characterised as a 'muddle', the PMOS said that the statement would be an attempt to recognise, on one hand, the...

Asked about behind the scenes discussion of the European question, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that the question was fairly straight forward and was arrived at in a straight forward manner...

The question to be asked in the UK referendum on the European Union Constitution has been disclosed by the Government.

Briefing from the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman on: Europe, Bellmarsh/Guantanamo and Incapacity Benefit/New Deal.

The OFT today cleared the acquisition by Clinisys Solutions Ltd (Clinisys) of Torex Laboratory Systems Ltd from iSOFT plc.   

Clearer deal needed for consumers   

A recent farm vehicle safety campaign by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Inspectors in North Devon and West Somerset has revealed an improvement in awareness of the need for safety training on farms, ...

RELEASED BY THE DCMS ON BEHALF OF THE FOOTBALL LICENSING AUTHORITY   

A new bovine tuberculosis project will replace the TB99 farm survey which aims to identify key factors affecting the spread and nature of the disease.   

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Home Office today launched the joint Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) and along with the Department for Education and Skills announced new educational guidelines on Forced...

Detention without trial will be replaced with a system of 'control orders', Home Secretary Charles Clarke announced today.

Chancellor Gordon Brown today instructed the Bank of England, as agent for Her Majesty's Treasury, to direct financial institutions that any funds which they hold for or on behalf of Sulayman DARWISH must...

A Bristol-based loan company has stopped making misleading claims in its advertising following OFT action.   

The Department for Constitutional Affairs today published figures for mortgage possession actions entered in the county courts of England and Wales for the fourth quarter of 2004   

Arts Minister halts the export of Reynolds masterpiece 'The Archers' Arts Minister, Estelle Morris, has placed a temporary export bar on ' The Archers', a painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds. In doing so she...

A new toolkit to guide local authorities through procurement plans and waste contracts has been developed and launched today by Defra.   

The most comprehensive report in to the health effects of the 1988 Lowermoor water contamination incident was published in draft form today and concludes that it is unlikely that the chemicals involved...

The £200 billion materials industry must not rest on it's laurels but continue to innovate and forge links with research establishments and related businesses Industry Minister Jacqui Smith said today...

Asked to shed any light on what appeared to be conflicting report on a "points system" for economic migrants, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said he could not, as there would be a Five Year...

Asked for further information behind the recent public servant Peerage honours, the PMOS briefed journalists on the list: Archbishop CareySir Richard WilsonLord CullenAdmiral Sir William BoyceSir John KerrSir Edward...

Asked if there was any consideration to putting "Question Time" back to twice a week, the PMOS said he had not heard the suggestion before. He said the Prime Minister's view was that "Question Time&#...

Asked if the Prime Minister thought the current Parliamentary hours were working well, or did he wish to return to later sittings, the PMOS replied that the Prime Minister's view would be that it was a matter for...

Asked if the Prime Minister was concerned that the Government had appeared not to bring violent crime under control, the PMOS said that in the interests of perspective, people should also acknowledge that overall...

Asked if there were any considerations to lift the cap on top up fees, given the recent allegations given by Oxford University "pleading poverty", the PMOS replied that the situation remained unchanged. ...

Briefing from the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman on: Top up Fees, Crime, Parliamentary Hours, Question Time, Peerages and Immigration.

Check against Delivery   

0.4 % three monthly rise into November

Down by 37,000

UK Economy up by 0.7% in Q4 2004

Tony Blair will deliver a keynote speech this evening about Africa and climate change to the World Economic Forum.

The UK needs more sperm and egg donors to meet an increasing demand, the Government has announced.

The Competition Commission (CC) has formally concluded that the acquisition by Emap plc (Emap) of ABI Building Data Limited (ABI), completed last year, can be expected to result in a substantial lessening...

Statement of issues   

The Department of Health has underlined its commitment to ensuring that patients have access to consistent, high-quality cancer treatment, regardless of where they live. The announcement follows a report which says...

The search to find England's most inspirational transformation of a community space narrowed today when Phil Hope, Minister at the Office of the Deputy Prime, announced the nine national finalists.   

Launched today, 26th January 2005, a new UK-wide initiative - the Payroll Giving Grants programme - is rewarding any employer, with fewer than 500 staff, for setting up a Payroll Giving scheme with a cash...

Launched today, 26th January 2005, a new UK-wide initiative - the Payroll Giving Grants programme - is rewarding any employer, with fewer than 500 staff, for setting up a Payroll Giving scheme with a cash...

The Department of Health today launched a new campaign to raise public awareness about the need for egg and sperm donation. The campaign encourages men and women to donate sperm and eggs in order to 'Give...

Trade and Industry Minister, Nigel Griffiths will today sign an agreement with the US to provide £12 million of aid to help accelerate the permanent shutdown of one of the last operating weapons-grade...