Check Against Delivery

The UK Presidency and the EU Commission are hosting an EU-China Human Rights Dialogue Seminar on the Ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in London on 12 and 13 December...

The PMOS welcomed the unanimous agreement today at the EU Competition Council on the REACH (Regulation, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) agreement, which was something we had been seeking for some time...

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) told journalists that we would be publishing a revised version of our proposals tomorrow morning. Put to him that if the Government conceded some of the UK's rebate...

Press briefing from the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman on: EU Rebate and Other business

Straightforward advice for farmers to protect their soils and their income

Citizens and businesses across the EU will benefit a new European Order for Payment procedure, agreed at the European Parliament today. This follows agreement among Member States at the Justice and Home Affairs ...

A report from Jobcentre Plus shows that 43% of the 3.4m vacancies successfully filled each year in the UK are in service roles - jobs including bar staff, packers and unskilled labourers - and in sales and customer...

Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman will visit Thailand from the 23-27 December and will represent the Government at the anniversary events in the Khao Lak area.

Asked about the Telegraph story, the PMOS said it was rubbish. He had met the Secretary of State in passing at No10 this morning and he had been even blunter in his dismissal. Asked in that case whether the plan...

Asked whether he had listened to John Humphries this morning and what he thought about the Lord Falconer interview, the PMOS said he had not listened to it. There was however a certain level of concern about the...

Asked whether the Prime Minister concurred with Major General Dutton, the commander in charge of MNDSE, who said it was realistic that troops could come home in 6 months, the PMOS said he had not heard the specific...

Asked if the Foreign Secretary would be saying anything on the budget proposals at the Foreign Affairs Select Committe, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said not on any new proposals. They would come...

Press briefing from the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman on: EU Budget, Iraq, Today Programme and IB Reform

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, today welcomed a Joint Declaration from Israeli and Palestinian business leaders urging private sector growth in the West Bank and Gaza.

Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, following consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, has decided to appoint The Honourable Mr Justice Elias as President of the Employment...

A special body to help people understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens has been set up by the DCA.

The Principles for achieving an increasingly holistic approach to managing the water environment are set out in a Defra and Welsh Assembly Government consultation launched today.

At Competitiveness Council today, Member States achieved political agreement on REACH, the new chemicals regulation. It paves the way for the Council and the European Parliament to deliver a final joint agreement...

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt today set out the two-year programme for the next stages of NHS reform.

The degree of risk felt by those thinking of starting their own business is wrongly inflated, deterring some from taking the next step. New research has found that a myth widespread among the public is that most...

JOINT DTI / DEFRA PRESS RELEASE

Vision

Scottish Executive response to the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse Drug-related Deaths Working Group, Report and Recommendations

This consultation invites comments on a proposed strategy for the control of diffuse water pollution from rural land use.

This report sets out the main developments that have occurred in government statistics in Scotland including examples within Executive Departments and agencies. The report also sets out what we have done to meet...

OFT issues new guidance on what constitutes estate agency work

The next stage in the Government's drive against drug abuse was given a boost today by the launch of a pilot in two dedicated courts aimed at hitting the scourge of drug induced crime.

The charges for licences to trade in certain endangered species are to be increased, Defra announced today.

A new international standard will provide an international framework and improve the security of information systems has been launched at a conference in London. Based on the original British Standard BS 7799 (part...

Put to him that there were reports in Brussels that suggested the French Government had said that it would block any further enlargement of Europe until Britain gave up it's rebate in full, the PMOS said that he...

Asked if the Government had ever received a request for an extra-ordinary rendition, as opposed to a rendition, the PMOS said that extra-ordinary rendition was not a phrase that we used. It was a media term. In ...

Asked what time the Prime Minister thought children should be home at, following his comments on GMTV that children should not stay out late, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said he thought that we...

Press briefing from the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman on: Anti Social Behaviour, Rendition and EU Budget

The Scottish Executive is seeking comments on draft Guidance on the procedures to follow for local inquiries into Core Paths Plans.

STATISTICAL RELEASE

Progress is good across England on a majority of environmental, social and economic concerns but there are still areas where things are not getting better, Environment Minister Elliot Morley said today.

Nov: CPI falls to 2.1%, RPI falls to 2.4%

To achieve economies of scale in the diagnosis, procurement and delivery of common training and organisational development activity across the range of public service organisations in Lothian, Fife and the Borders...

My right hon. and noble Friend, the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, has made the following written ministerial statement in the other place today, 12 December 2005:"I am pleased...

From a community of around 23,000 in the United Kingdom entitled to diplomatic immunity, 11 serious offences, allegedly committed by such persons, were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office...

There were 4,821 outstanding parking and other minor traffic violation fines incurred by Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations in the United Kingdom recorded during the year 1 January 2004 to 31 December...

The majority of diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom pay the National Non-Domestic Rates requested from them. They are obliged to pay only 6 per cent. of the total National Non-Domestic Rates value which represents...

The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) will be held on 12 December in Brussels. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I will represent the UK.The...

During Foreign and Commonwealth Office Oral Questions on Tuesday 29 November, in response to a supplementary question from the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne), I said"the United Kingdom has historically...

Section 14(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 (the 2005 Act) requires me to report to Parliament as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of every relevant three-month period on my exercise of the...

The Government are committed to ensuring that the pledges on Africa and development made at the G8 summit at Gleneagles in July are implemented, and progress has already been made. At the international level, implementation...

I have today placed in the Library the latest quarterly progress report on Pension Credit, with figures to the end of September. The report gives the number of households and individuals receiving Pension Credit...

Older residents in three areas of the country are receiving extra support this festive season as part of a specialised warden scheme being formally launched today by ODPM Minister Baroness Andrews.