On hearing of the agreement of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to meet in Geneva in February to discuss improved implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement, Dr Kim Howells...

The FCO's Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman, today hosted a discussion with representatives of African diaspora organisations in the UK. The meeting reviewed progress on Africa in 2005 and looked forward to 2006...

Asked what the Prime Minister might be doing tomorrow, the PMS said that she thought she spotted a reshuffle question in there somewhere. Asked if there might be a reshuffle the PMS said that she had nothing to ...

Asked about allegations of bullying at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), the Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) said that John Prescott's Office had responded earlier today, saying that the ODPM did ...

Press briefing from the Prime Minister's Spokesman on: Bullying and Other business

The dangers of military action in Afghanistan pale in comparison to the risks Britain would face if the international community allowed the country to become a sanctuary for international terrorism again, the Defence...

Home Office Minister Paul Goggins said:

The regulation of gas and electricity sales to domestic customers: notice of the proposed modification of standard licence conditions 48 (marketing conditions) and consultation on their continuation

Pro forma questionnaire on the cost impacts of enduring gas offtake reform: Gas Transporters and the Agency

Electricity distribution use of system charging: Bath University benefits analysis report on the long term charging framework

Corporate Strategy and Plan 2006-2011

A Science Policy for Wales?

The Government launched a Green Paper "A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work" on Tuesday 24 January 2006. This is a landmark document for the Department in meeting its objectives of promoting opportunity...

Feargal Sharkey, Chairman of the Government's Live Music Forum, today challenged every local council in England and Wales to transform at least one disused property in their area into a rehearsal studio for local...

National Search Launched Today for UK's First Ever Young "Climate Change Champions"

Agriculture is the second largest contributor of greenhouse gases, with two-thirds of nitrous oxide and almost half of methane emissions come from the industry's activities, Lord Bach, Minister for Sustainable ...

New guidance includes plans to get the NHS back in the black

An end to unwanted commuting routines, a world where all vehicles are part of the transport infrastructure and a time when the "information age" has transformed into the "intelligence age" are all ideas that could...

The Small Business Service (SBS) has appointed BIP Solutions as its service provider to develop and manage a new opportunities portal for lower-value public sector contracts. BIP Solutions will be responsible for...

The latest BFI programme will concentrate on councils where the most recent published performance information indicates that they take more than seven weeks to process new claims for housing benefits and on other...

Dr Valerie Caton has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Finland in succession to Mr Matthew Kirk who will be taking a career break. Dr Caton will take up her appointment in March 2006.

Asked what did the Prime Minister think about the Home Office statistics that showed that violent crime and robbery were on the increase, the PMOS said that what the journalist had left out that overall crime had...

Asked what could be made of the interpretation from the Prime Minister's words at PMQs that he had agreed to implement the Education White Paper in full, the PMOS replied that one should be wary of over-interpretation...

Asked how important did the Prime Minister think it was for people in public life to tell the truth, the PMOS said he thought he knew where the question was going, and he was not going to go down a...

Asked what the reaction was to the Palestinian elections was, and would we be willing to work with a Hamas government, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) replied that first of all, people should wait...

Asked if there had been a decision on numbers of troops being sent to the area, the PMOS said that a decision had been taken on the operation on Afghanistan, which included numbers. Asked if there had been any discussion...

The Queen has been pleased to approve that Sir John Brigstocke KCB be appointed to the post of Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman. The new office will come into being on 3rd April 2006.

The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Stephen Laws CB to succeed Sir Geoffrey Bowman KCB, as First Parliamentary Counsel.

Press briefing from the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman on: Afghanistan, Palestinian Elections, Truth, Education White Paper and Home Office Statistics

The Scottish Executive commissioned TNS Travel and Tourism to collect information on cycling use and attitudes towards cycling in Scotland that could be compared with previous research conducted in 1997 and 2001...

The Scottish Executive commissioned TNS Travel and Tourism to collect information on cycling use and attitudes towards cycling in Scotland that could be compared with previous research conducted in 1997 and 2001...

Proposals for technical guidance on rail closures and minor modifications, which rail funding authorities, train and network operating companies will follow when considering the closure of, or modification to, a...

The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA) has recommended clearer and fairer model contract terms to its members following discussions with the OFT. Draft model terms were submitted to the OFT ...

'One-stop shops' for older people based on the Sure Start family services model are to be introduced by the Government.

A major cross-party review of how crime statistics are compiled and published, to increase public understanding of crime trends, was announced today by the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke.

PREPARED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS HOUSING ANALYSIS & EVALUATION DIVISION

Introduction

Update of the NHSScotland Workforce Statistics on the Scottish Health on the Web (SHOW) website to include figures as at 30 September 2005.

An Evaluation of 5 in-court advice pilots located in Aberdeen, Airdrie, Dundee, Hamilton and Kilmarnock. The pilots are intended to extend access to civil justice for people without legal representation in certain...

This shows the number of smears processed by quarter, average reporting times, percentage of unsatisfactory smears, results of smears and Health Board cross border analysis.

Coverage: United Kingdom Theme: Social and Welfare

Coverage: United Kingdom Theme: Social and Welfare

An Evaluation of 5 in-court advice pilots located in Aberdeen, Airdrie, Dundee, Hamilton and Kilmarnock. The pilots are intended to extend access to civil justice for people without legal representation in certain...

Everyone will soon have access to detailed information on the cleanliness and quality of their local environment, Environment Secretary, Margaret Beckett, announced at a meeting with council leaders today.

I am announcing today that I have approved significant additional resources for the Ministry of Defence medal office in order that it may further improve the delivery of existing medals and reduce the existing backlog...

I have pleasure in announcing the appointment of Mrs. Linda Costelloe Baker as independent monitor for entry clearance refusals without the right of appeal. Mrs. Costelloe Baker succeeds Ms Fiona Lindsley whose ...

Further to my statement on 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 37WS, I am today publishing a report showing the action that my Department is taking to achieve financial turnaround in the national health service...

Over the course of the last six months, the Government have consulted formally and have had other extensive discussions with those directly concerned in industry, universities, the research councils, research charities...

The tragic events of July last year have demonstrated that the threat from international terrorism remains real and serious. The police service and our security and intelligence agencies are at the frontline of ...

Last week I visited the Horn of Africa. In Kenya I saw at first hand the devastating effects that drought is having on people's lives in the arid north of the country. In Ethiopia I saw the benefits being gained...

The Government have received a thematic review report from the chief inspector of criminal justice in Northern Ireland, Mr. Kit Chivers. The report, "Target Setting and Performance Management in the Criminal Justice...

Asked if everyone had given up on a reshuffle, the PMOS said he could not speak for them but he remained optimistic. Asked if it was a money saving measure, the PMOS suggested that the Guardian could put whatever...

Asked whether the Defence Secretary would be appearing in the House of Commons again tomorrow to say that a decision had now been taken, the PMOS said first and foremost a decision needed to be taken. Then we would...

Asked if the Prime Minister had seen the comments by the Iranian Foreign Minister blaming Britain for the bombings, the PMOS said that he was not sure the Prime Minister had seen them, but either way he did not ...

Asked whether the Prime Minister expected the Education Bill to reflect David Cameron's comments, the PMOS said that the education bill would reflect what it reflected. The Prime Minister had been setting out a ...

Asked if there was a timetable for the report, the PMOS said no. It would be whenever the Interception Commissioner, Sir Swinton Thomas, had actually had a chance to talk to people. It would go at his pace. Asked...

Asked about David Cameron's suggestion that the Home Secretary had said one thing and the Prime Minister expressed his preferred options differently, such as the one at his press conference on Monday on the idea...

Asked if the Prime Minister liked the new approach PMQ's, as opposed to the non Punch and Judy version, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister would answer in his own way whatever questions were put to him in whatever...

Asked if the subject of Al Jazeera would come up, the Prime Minister Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that it was entirely for the Amir to decide....

Tony Blair spoke at the formal launch of the Christian Muslim Forum, a new interfaith group which brings together a wide range of people involved in community life. See our exclusive image gallery.

Press briefing from the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman on: Amir of Qatar, PMQs, Police Reforms, Wilson Doctrine, Education White Paper, Iran, Afghanistan and Reshuffle

A Swiss company has given an assurance to the OFT that it will no longer distribute to UK consumers a letter predicting bad luck, imminent danger and severe abuse for those who failed to respond.