Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott today named Professor Peter Roberts OBE as the Chair of the UK's new Academy for Sustainable Communities.   

Tourists who buy faulty goods abroad will be able to seek redress in this country under new EU proposals, which are published for consultation today.   

13-year-olds design new Hansard Society political website for young people   

The Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales met on 7, 8 and 9 June 2005 for the 2005 annual pay negotiations. The Board has proposed introducing a new Wages Order that would come into force on Saturday 1...

John Bacon, Director of Health and Social Services Delivery, today welcomed the appointment of Professor Bernard Crump as the Chief Executive designate of the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement. The new...

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the EEF - the manufacturers' organisation - will jointly be running a series of noise and vibration roadshows across Great Britain in September and October 2005. At work...

Views are being sought on proposed new legislation aimed at consolidating and updating existing transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) law.   

A Foreign Office spokesman said today:   

SPEECH TO THE TANZANIAN PARLIAMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR AFRICA   

Rate falls to 74.8% in 3 months to April

Asked if we were expecting more proposals to come out of either the Luxembourg or Brussels meetings, the PMOS said that was a matter for the Presidency. Our working assumption was that we would not receive any further...

The Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMOS) announced to journalists that Sir Gus O'Donnell had been appointed as Cabinet Secretary, following an internal competition, handled on the advice of Sir Andrew Turnbull, as ...

Report states that parents and teachers are increasingly pleased with education on offer - the government wants 200 academies in place or under construction by 2010.

Briefing from the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman on: Sir Gus O'Donnell and EU Finance.

New powers come into force today enabling local authorities in England to identify for licensing, houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and their landlords through the use of internally held information, involving...

An alternative way forward to the current Private Finance Initiative (PFI) solution for the Armoured Vehicles Training Service (AVTS) is being sought, announced the Minister for Defence Procurement Lord Drayson ...

Lord Bach, Minister for Sustainable Farming and Food today announced that financial consultants, PricewaterhouseCoopers have been engaged by Defra to advise on the future development of New Covent Garden Market ...

Thousands of people with diabetes are to benefit from a better quality of life, as plans to mainstream patient education programmes in diabetes services were announced by Health Minister Rosie Winterton today.   

Voluntary organisations could be in for a share of £2.5m to raise awareness of employment equality regulations, Deputy Equality Minister Meg Munn announced today.   

A new scheme to protect consumers from cowboy builders is open for business and ready to take its first applications Construction Minister Alun Michael announced today. "TrustMark is about being able to trust builders...

prepared by the DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS FAMILIES WORK AND POVERTY DIVISION   

Tony Blair answered questions about air ambulances, the EU Constitution, the future of Europe, affordable housing, anti-social behaviour and incapacity benefits during his weekly PMQ session.

A bumper package of grants are on offer to transform communities as part of the new 'living landmarks' scheme.

The Queen has been pleased to approve that Patrick McLoughlin MP, be sworn of Her Majesty's most honourable Privy Council.

The RAF has recently celebrated a milestone in the development of its new Typhoon aircraft with news of the successful firing of an Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM).   

Environment Minister Elliot Morley today urged all those planting or managing trees to take action now to cope with the unavoidable climate change impacts that the UK looks set to face in future decades.   

Asked where the meetings would be based, the Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) said she did not know. Advertisements for committee members would be advertised soon. Asked how the chairmen had been chosen, the PMS...

Briefing from the Prime Minister's Spokesman on: Honours Committees Chairmen.

The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Sir Gus O' Donnell, currently Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury, to be Secretary of the Cabinet.

The Prime Minister has today re-appointed His Royal Highness The Duke of York as a trustee of the National Maritime Museum.

The Queen has been pleased to appoint Dr Monica Main MB ChB DRCOG MRCGP as Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Sutherland.

The Queen has been pleased to approve that Patrick McLoughlin MP, be sworn of Her Majesty's most honourable Privy Council

Evaluation of the Hamilton Sheriff Youth Court

Evaluation of the Hamilton Sheriff Youth Court

David Blunkett, Work and Pensions Secretary, today welcomed official figures showing more people in work and fewer people on incapacity benefits and lone parent benefits. He said:   

Coverage: Great Britain (unless otherwise stated) Theme: Social and Welfare   

4.84 million people of working age were claiming a key benefit in February 2005, down 107 thousand from a year previously, but up 60 thousand from November 2004. The number of male claimants fell by 68 thousand ...

This analysis is based on people of working age who claim a key benefit and who receive an additional allowance for a child under 16 years of age or for a young adult dependant aged between 16 and 18 in full-time...

An improved benefits debt collection service, combining fairness and efficiency, is being designed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), helped by a report published today by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate...

Pay growth steady in year to April

Rate falls to 74.8%

With just one in five IT jobs being taken up by women - a figure that continues to fall - the Government is setting up a network of 'computer clubs' for girls.

Tony Blair will answer questions in the House of Commons today in his weekly PMQ session. Watch the broadcast here live at 1200 BST.

Key targets have now been set for the acting chief executive of the DVA for the financial year 2005–06. Building upon the progress made since it formed in 1997, these incremental targets will help the agency to...

I am pleased to announce that the Amey Lex consortium has been awarded a contract to provide the armed forces with a new generation of heavy plant equipment, logistic support and construction machines, collectively...

The most recent events in Zimbabwe are of grave concern. Zimbabweans are deprived of their democratic and human rights, facing the consequences of chronic economic misrule, and grappling with severe food shortages...

After detailed consideration, I am announcing today that we will not proceed with the construction of an accommodation centre for asylum seekers at the former MOD site outside Bicester in Oxfordshire. Neither will...

An important milestone has been reached in the programme of reform of the honours system.After an open selection process, which followed the requirements of the code of practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments...

We are today announcing two significant developments in Government energy policy. The first is the publication of a carbon abatement technology strategy for fossil fuel use. The second is our response to the proposals...

On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the benefit fraud inspectorate (BFI) has today announced its phase 12 programme of work. It is important that local authorities deliver...

The publication of the National Audit Office (NAO) report: 'Ministry of Defence - Assessing and Reporting Military Readiness', was welcomed today by Armed Forces Minister, Adam Ingram.