The Foreign Secretary and International Development Secretary today expressed their concern at reports of recent attacks in Darfur, and the possible effect of these on the peace process.

The Foreign Secretary and International Development Secretary today expressed their concern at reports of recent attacks in Darfur, and the possible effect of these on the peace process.

Over 1.1 million people are at risk from high levels of noise at work and about 1.7 million people are at risk from Hand Arm Vibration(HAV).

Foreign Office Minister Dr Kim Howells has welcomed King Gyanendra of Nepal's announcement on 24 April that he will recall the Nepalese Parliament. The first session of the recalled Parliament will be on 28 April...

The FCO has made factual amendments to its Travel Advice for Egypt to draw attention to yesterday evening's terrorist outrage in Dahab, Egypt. However, it has not changed the level of its advice, nor is it advising...

Asked about the launch of a Government campaign to consumers to encourage healthier lifestyles, the PMOS said that it was a fact that in terms of the impact of health advice, those messages a teenager might receive...

Asked for a reaction to comments by the Iranian President concerning Israel, the PMOS said that he thought that everyone should read the Iranian president's comments because they underlined, once again, the reasons...

Asked if the Prime Minister would be meeting the Families Against the War group this week, the PMOS said there were established procedures for arranging such meetings. He had no doubt that if those procedures were...

Asked if the Prime Minister still had confidence in the tax credit system following recent criticism of its performance, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that the Prime Minister fully supported...

Tony Blair has sent his condolences to the families of those killed and injured by the explosions at the Red Sea resort of Dahab.

Press briefing from the Prime Minister's Spokesman on: Tax Credits, Families against the War, Iran, Egypt Bombings and Health

A Joint Force Harrier detachment will continue to provide vital close air support and reconnaissance to Coalition and NATO forces operating in Southern Afghanistan, the Defence Secretary John Reid confirmed today...

Health, work and well-being - Caring for the future

Teachers and students gathered in Number 10 this week for a special reception in honour of the further education sector.

Getting off the bus a stop earlier, walking up the stairs or eating an extra piece of fruit a day could add years to your life, according to a new public health initiative launched by Tony Blair.

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Report on Information requests handling in the Scottish Executive January - December 2005

Results of September 2005 census of Scottish independent schools.

Note of second meeting of the National Sexual Health Advisory Group

Volume 2 - Annexes and Research connected with the Adult Entertainment Working Group Report and Recommendations

Adult Entertainment Working Group report and recommendations to Ministers on the adult entertainment industry in Scotland.

The Competition Commission (CC) has announced that it has accepted the OFT's advice to release LRC Products from its current undertakings. LRC Products is part of SSL International, which is the supplier of Durex...

Getting off the bus a stop earlier, walking up the stairs instead of taking the lift or eating an extra piece of fruit or vegetable a day could add years to a person's life, according to a major new public health...

John Hutton, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced today the appointment of John Spanswick to the Health and Safety Commission (HSC).

Recommendations put forward following an independent review of the UK's avian quarantine system were today largely accepted.   

The UK today asked Norway to end its program of lethal whaling activities.   

Professor Jeni Colbourne MBE has been reappointed Chief Inspector of the Drinking Water Inspectorate with effect from April 2006, Minister of State for the Environment Elliot Morley, and Welsh Assembly Government...

Rural Affairs Minister Jim Knight praised a Bristol charity that inspires and helps people to take up cycling during his visit to local woodlands today.   

Too many people are missing out on the benefits of getting active in England's woodlands, thinking they are only found in rural areas, Forestry Minister Jim Knight said today.   

Joint Defra, DTI and ODPM Press Release for launch of publication   

The Department of Health today launched a consultation on proposals for a new streamlined system of selecting topics for review by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).   

The process for filling the top job in social care will begin this week, coinciding with a powerful TV campaign to attract more people in to the sector at ground level.   

A national implementation group is being set up to ensure that the largest ever reforms to NHS dentistry, which are being implemented from 1 April, deliver their intended benefits, announced Health Minister Rosie...

Lord Warner today spelled out how commissioning can help primary care trusts both to achieve better local services for patients and to squeeze every penny of value out of each pound spent by taxpayers on the NHS...

All international doctors now required to have a work permit to work in the UK   

Sir Nigel Crisp today announced that he is to step down from his post as Chief Executive of the NHS and Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health at the end of the month.   

-Largest ever hospital private PFI project gets the green-light- -Multi-million pound investment in two brand new hospitals for London-   

Health Minister Jane Kennedy and Cabinet Office Minister Jim Murphy today announced plans to ensure that paperwork is kept to the minimum, freeing frontline NHS staff to focus on patient care.   

Care Services Minister Liam Byrne is to create a new group of dignity guardians to help him toughen the regulation of social care. The council will include representatives from Help the Aged, Action on Elder Abuse...

An increase in the prescription charge of 15p was announced today by the Government with the charge for a single prescription item rising to £6.65 on 1st April 2006.   

-All patients to benefit from new GP contract - - GPs get their fair share of funding regardless of individual contracts-   

NHS organisations can be a powerful force for good in regenerating local communities, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said today. She urged them to take account of tackling deprivation when reconfiguring local ...

Salaried dentists will see their careers modernised and pay reviewed Health Minister Rosie Winterton announced today as she visited The Lister Centre in south London.   

UK Public Health Association (UKPHA)   

The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, today announced the appointment of Professor Martin Marshall as Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health to take forward the healthcare quality...

Department of Health also publishes new national tariff   

More older people are to be helped to live independently in their own homes for longer, thanks to a £18.5m government project.   

30 pc reduction in admissions could mean people don't spend unnecessary time in hospital and save over £400m a year for other services   

Health Minister Rosie Winterton today visited a leading cancer research centre to mark prostate cancer awareness week. Prostate cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the most common cancer diagnosed in men, but research...

New shorter Bill to amend existing Mental Health Act   

The Government today unveiled new guidance to help support school nursing.   

NHS health trainers will begin work to help people improve their health as the government initiative to tackle health inequalities starts to roll out nationally.   

As the clocks go forward into British summertime, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt confirms that winter is now part of everyday business for the NHS. In a performance report presented to Ms Hewitt today, the National...

The Department of Health today launched the public consultation paper on the Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Order 2006.   

New figures show that early patient admissions for non-clinical reasons is wasting £78m a year   

Children are at risk of permanently damaging their eyesight and even risk blindness if they look directly at the partial eclipse tomorrow warned the Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson.   

Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt today announced 'fair and affordable' pay awards for NHS staff.   

Quote from Care Services Minister Liam Byrne   

Patients will benefit from new reforms giving power back to local NHS   

Main Points This Month   

The NHS is still delivering fast access to hospital care and making significant reductions to waiting lists despite winter pressures, new figures released today by the Department of Health show.   

The NHS Appointments Commission has announced the re-appointment of Professor Gordon Duff to the post of Chair of the National Biological Standards Board (NBSB). This appointment is from 1 January 2006 until 31 ...

GPs encouraged to tackle more long-term conditions, including dementia, depression, kidney disease and obesity -   

'Wide variation in length of stay for operations must be reduced to improve patient care and deliver better value for money'   

The Department of Health and Norton Healthcare Ltd and Norton Pharmaceuticals Ltd ("Norton") are pleased to jointly announce settlement of the claims brought against Norton for alleged anti-competitive cartel conduct...

Health Minister Lord Warner today announced the appointment of Professor Gordon Duff to chair an expert group set up to learn from the Parexel clinical trials incident.   

- NHS on target for 625 new GP premises and health centres since 2001 -   

Health Minister Rosie Winterton addresses Tropical Health and Education Trust conference   

Claims of a mass exodus of dentists from the NHS proved unfounded as the great majority of dentists have signed up to new dental contracts, announced health minister Rosie Winterton today.   

The Government drive to improve care for people at the end of their lives is making significant improvements to patient care, an NHS progress report published today confirms.   

The following statistics were released today by the Health and Social Care Information Centre:   

Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt today announced a reorganisation of Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) in England.   

- Patients in Birmingham and St Helens to benefit from new multi-million pound NHS hospitals - - Biggest hospital PFI project outside London gets the green-light -   

New report also shows suicide rate for young men is continuing to fall steadily   

Report published on results of IMCA consultation   

Health and social care watchdogs have been asked to put older people's dignity at the centre of their investigations, following an announcement made by Care Services Minister Liam Byrne today.   

Payment and Reimbursement Guidelines for Service Users Involved in Health and Social Care   

Major review recommends new way forward for key mental health professionals   

The following statistics were released today by the Health and Social Care Information Centre:   

The annual NHS census published today, shows a steady increase in the number of staff working in the NHS helping to bring about more improvements to patient care.   

The UK and Brazilian Governments have today agreed to work together to assess the potential for collaborating with southern Africa to sustainably expand its bio-ethanol industry as well as forging stronger links...

Consulting employees on issues that matter most is at the heart of a company visits scheme being launched by the DTI today.   

The UK materials industry must continue moving up the value added chain and discover new markets and opportunities in order to continue as a world class player. This was the message to the industry from the Minister...

Minister for Women, Tessa Jowell, will today speak about two important issues to women, at two separate events.   

Post Office Limited has today published a report on Rural Pilot Activity. The work was commissioned by the Government to report on the findings of their trials of new, innovative and cost-effective ways of delivering...

A DTI consultation on paternity leave and pay being published today focusses on giving working parents the right to choose who cares for a child in the first year of life.   

Nuclear energy must be safe and secure if it is to have a defensible role in the future energy mix, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks will say during a visit to Manchester today.   

Orders in the twelve months to January 2006 rose by eight per cent compared with 2004, and orders in the three months to January 2006 rose by 16 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier. Orders in the...

The final measures to outlaw age discrimination in the workplace were published by Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson today.   

Outlawing discrimination by pubs, hotels and restaurants to gay and lesbian customers is at the heart of a DTI consultation published today.   

The Government has today unveiled an innovative programme aimed at encouraging secondary school students from black and ethnic minority backgrounds to become more involved in science and maths.   

STATISTICAL PRESS RELEASE   

The director of a wine company operating from Surrey has been disqualified for 13 years after duping people into buying wine at up to twice its true value. Pierre Stephen Boyd sold wine to the public as an investment...

How we exploit world leading technologies that deliver a low carbon economy for the UK is the challenge facing hundreds of opinion formers from the worlds of science, industry and government who are gathering in...

Eighty previously licensed North Sea blocks that are inactive are to receive a shake up in the 24th Offshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round announced today by Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks.   

About 1.3 million workers will be guaranteed higher pay when the minimum wage rises in October.   

The nuclear industry needs to address some fundamental questions if it's ever to be considered part of the future energy mix Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said today.   

The UK's research base remains second only to the United States in terms of its achievements, productivity and efficiency, according to a new study release by the Department for Trade and Industry today.   

Innovative projects to help trade unions adapt to meet the challenges of the modern workplace were announced today by Employment Relations Minister Gerry Sutcliffe.   

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...

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...

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...

New survey shows 17 per cent growth   

Summer time will begin on 26 March at 1.00 am GMT and will end on Sunday 29 October at 1.00 am GMT. These timings apply throughout European Member States and reflect customary procedures. The clocks go forward, ...

A Yorkshire couple were spared from shelling out £5000 in a holiday club scam after they contacted the government funded Consumer Direct helpline for advice. They also set in motion a chain of events...

Government launches strategy to increase local level energy production and reduce carbon emissions   

Trade and Industry Secretary, Alan Johnson, will today congratulated the latest winners of the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) awards, recognising the outstanding achievements of some of the brightest potential...

UK business is to get £80million next month to support technology innovation, Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson announced today.   

Figures released today by Consumer Direct show home improvement and maintenance work was the most complained about service during 2005.   

STATISTICAL PRESS RELEASE   

Protecting vulnerable workers, cracking down on rogue employers and lightening the load for legitimate business will be the focus of the Government's employment relations policy for this Parliament.   

The drive to increase Britain's offshore wind energy was given a significant boost today as details were announced of how their connection to the electricity network onshore would be funded and operated.   

A report out today shows the UK has made progress in raising productivity. High productivity is harder to achieve when employment is high, yet this has been achieved as the economy creates record numbers of jobs...

Millions of consumers will enjoy greater protection from unscrupulous lenders as a result of the Consumer Credit Bill, which gets Royal Assent today.   

DTI today announced that six organisations have been awarded contracts under the Sector Sustainability Challenge following a successful tender process. The Challenge is funded jointly by DTI and DFERA.   

Science and Innovation Minister, Lord Sainsbury, today announced a £52million investment in the next generation High End Computing service, HECToR.   

New, independent research published by the Government today shows the benefits mums and dads are experiencing as a result of family friendly legislation introduced since the last survey in 2002.   

Orders in the twelve months to February 2006 rose by eight per cent compared with the previous twelve months, and orders in the three months to February 2006 rose by 9 per cent compared to the same period a year...

Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson today announced the winning bids for a multi-million pound Government fund to help tens of thousands of people from some of the most deprived areas across England and Wales...

DTI MAKES £1.8M AWARD TO BOOST CLAMP DOWN ON ROGUE TRADERS   

Cutting edge micro and nanotechnology projects across the UK are set to get a Government boost of nearly £10 million, Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson announced today.   

"Competition and Choice in the UK Audit Market", an independent analysis of the audit market in the UK was jointly published today by the DTI and Financial Reporting Council. The research, conducted by economic...

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Competitiveness, Barry Gardiner, today announced the appointment of six new Members to the National Council of Postwatch - The Consumer Council for Postal Services.   

After meeting over 500 energy and environment experts, receiving more than 2000 written responses and listening to the views of the public the Energy Review consultation, which is now closed, moves to its next crucial...

Whilst today's decision is a commercial matter for Peugeot, I am extremely disappointed that Peugeot has decided to end manufacturing at Ryton, particularly given the substantial quality and productivity improvements...

Government consent was today given for construction of a flue gas desulphurisation plant at Scottish and Southern Energy's Fiddler's Ferry Power Station in Warrington.   

Liquefied gas from the largest field in the world is set to provide the UK with up to 20 per cent of its gas demand by 2009 Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said in advance of joining representatives from more than...

I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Dr. Peter Knight and Mr. Robert Burgin as members of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body for a second three-year term, commencing March 2007. The reappointments have been...

We are today launching the new Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP).The centre is a world first and will play a decisive part, with police forces, offender managers, children's services and other...

I am today announcing that John Grant, the Permanent Representative to the EU, has written to the European Commission to confirm that the worker registration scheme will continue beyond 1 May 2006.The Treaty of ...

The administrative court handed down its judgment on 12 April 2006 in the first review of a control order under section 3(10) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 (the 2005 Act). The court upheld the control ...

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, has condemned today's bombings in the Egyptian resort of Dahab: