- support for families and first time buyers driving forward plans to making housing more affordable -

INFORMATION NOTE

The UK's £42 billion chemicals manufacturing industry will benefit from a new partnership between businesses, research and technology organisations and universities, DTI Minister Barry Gardiner said today...

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) are to produce an action plan, published by the end of April, setting out how they believe they can deliver benefits to consumers and firms...

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today issued an information document to the owners of vertically opening powered rolling doors following a number of serious and fatal accidents to children riding on these...

AMENDED VERSION

Commenting on the Chancellor's Budget statement, Tessa Jowell, Olympics Minister and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said:

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, has welcomed the announcements in today's budget of a £1 million Government donation to a charitable fund to help the British victims ...

A questionnaire to identify pilot sites for developing integrated approaches to urban drainage has been published by Defra.

Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, welcomed the focus on climate change in today's Budget speech by the Chancellor.

Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson today announced the first two Enterprise Capital Funds created under a multi-million pound Government scheme to boost innovation, jobs and growth for small and medium-sized...

The Department of Trade and Industry is spearheading a Government-wide initiative to streamline business support at a local, regional and national level to reduce the number of schemes from more than 3,000 to just...

"This is a good budget for clean energy. Barely a week goes by without new evidence of the damaging impact of carbon emissions on our climate. The Chancellor has today demonstrated in concrete terms our commitment...

Foreign Office Minister Dr Kim Howells today expressed his concern over the case of Abdul Rahman, a Christian convert in Afghanistan who has been charged and is facing trial for rejecting Islam.

Asked about Jack Straw's comments during his statement yesterday regarding British nationals being caught up overseas in terrorist attacks and the financial support offered to them, and was he disagreeing with the...

Asked if there were any dates for a meeting between the Prime Minister and David Cameron, the PMOS replied that the offices were in contact....

Asked if there had been any contact between No10 and the Met Police regarding their investigation into cash for peerages, the PMOS replied not that he was aware of....

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman briefed journalists about the Chancellor's Budget. The PMOS said that the Chancellor had given a Budget presentation to the Cabinet this morning. The Chancellor had set out...

Press briefing from the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman on: Budget, Peerages Investigation, David Cameron meeting and Jack Straw statement-terrorism

The Government's economic objective is to build a strong economy and a fair society, where there is opportunity and security for all.

Rates and allowances for Income Tax, National Insurance Contributions the Working and Child Tax Credits, Child Benefit/Guardian's Allowance, fuel duties, alcohol duties, vehicle excise duties and stamp duty land...

HM Treasury, the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority have today jointly published an updated Memorandum of Understanding for Financial Stability.

Key stakeholders in London's financial sector are joining forces with the Government to promote London as the world's leading international financial centre. Twelve leading London markets and financial sector industry...

Measures aimed at tackling tax fraud and avoidance were announced by the Chancellor today. By protecting the tax system from abuse, these measures will ensure that everybody pays their fair share of tax.

The Chancellor has today announced to the House of Commons the appointment of Professor David Blanchflower to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to succeed Steve Nickell. This appointment will...

Check against Delivery

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is today reminding industry of the dangers of misusing retractable type fall arresters - sometimes referred to as 'inertia blocks' - following the interim findings of a research...

New rules to help reduce the risk of spreading bovine TB through movements of cattle will be introduced in England on 27 March.

The British economy is strong and continues to strengthen, Gordon Brown said as he unveiled his latest Budget Report. You can watch his speech again on our website or read a summary of the main points.

Law and order, education and ID cards were on the agenda at this week's PMQs. The transcript of today's session will be available here later.

Analysis of Gambling Act 2005 regulations consultation

Updates for 2004-05 and earlier years for key series This release provides new estimates of financial year outturns for some key public expenditure series that are complied and published by HM Treasury as National...

Response to Mental Welfare Commission Inquiry

Put to him that Charles Clarke had said that the fact that Jack Dromey had not known about some of the loans to the Labour party raised serious questions about his capacity as party treasurer, the PMOS said that...

Asked what the key message in this speech was, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that the speech was titled "Not a Clash of Civilisations, But Rather a Clash About Civilisation." The Prime...

Tony Blair is answering questions from MPs in his weekly PMQ session. The Budget will follow immediately afterwards.

Press briefing from the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman on: Prime Minister's Speech and Party Funding

The departmental Strategy for the Defence Estate 2006—In Trust and On Trust will be published today. It builds on the robust foundations and achievements of In Trust and On Trust: The Strategy for the Defence Estate...

The Stewardship Report on the Defence Estate 2005 will be published today. The publication of the report implements the commitment in the Defence Estate Strategy "In Trust and On Trust" to report annually performance...

I will be representing the United Kingdom at this month's Agriculture and Fisheries Council.The Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner will update the Council on developments with regard to the spread of the...

The Sea Fish Industry Authority (SFIA) was established in 1981 to serve the interests of the UK sea fish industry. It is regulated by the four fisheries administrations in the UK.An independent review of the SFIA...

Further to my written statement of 20 March, I should like to make a statement to report progress on the review of police force structures in the Yorkshire and the Humber region.My statement of 20 March set out ...

With the introduction of a new tax regime for pensions from 6 April of this year, it will be necessary for pension schemes to be registered with HM Customs and Revenue before receiving tax privileges. As a result...

I am today announcing the final outcome of the Review of Public Administration (RPA) in Northern Ireland. My previous announcement of 22 November 2005 dealt with local government, education and the major health ...

I am today announcing the conclusions of the review of the Northern rail franchise. Copies of the consultant's report detailing their review will be placed in the House Library.Northern Rail, one of the largest ...

My Department has responded to the Civil Aviation Authority's Price Control Review consultation. The response makes the following points.The economic regulation of London airports is, in general, supported by users...

When a person moves their pension rights from one scheme to another, a cash value is put on those pension rights and that cash sum is passed from one scheme to the other.The Government have delegated to the actuarial...

The Chancellor will deliver his Budget Report speech to the House of Commons today. You'll be able to watch the broadcast live on this website from 1230 GMT, straight after PMQs.

Tony Blair will answer questions from MPs today in his weekly PMQ session. You will be able to watch the broadcast live here from 1200 GMT. The Budget will follow immediately afterwards.

British Horse Industry Confederation

Ten innovative new strategies have been launched to help bring major investment and jobs to our cities. The City Growth strategy, which puts business and business leaders at the heart of urban revitalisation, will...