Asked if the failure to win the Blaenau Gwent by-election was an indication that the Government was running out of steam, the PMOS said that he was surprised that he was being asked to comment on what was clearly...

Asked if the Prime Minister was concerned that the US administration was pushing ahead with military trials for inmates at Guantanamo Bay given that they were against the Geneva Convention, the PMOS said that it...

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) told journalists that the number of patients waiting for an operation had fallen by 4000 between April and May. The year on year figure was down 42,000 and the drop...

Press briefing from the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman on: NHS, Guantanamo Bay and By-Election Results

The British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett will visit Brazil between 2 and 4 July at the invitation of Foreign Minister Amorim. This will be her first bilateral visit since she was appointed Foreign Secretary...

Tony Blair has visited the Butterwick Children's hospice in Stockton-on-Tees to mark £27m of funding for palliative care.

Amended version

The presence of Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) has been confirmed in a trout farm in Dorset.

Between £6.5million and £8million from the Indian Government for India-UK joint working in research will significantly boost the UK-India Education & Research Initiative (UKIERI), Science & Innovation...

Her Majesty The Queen has signified Her intention of appointing Peter Haworth to be a Taxing Master of the Supreme Court with effect from 1 July 2006.

His Honour Judge Timothy Lawrence will retire from the Circuit Bench on the South Eastern Circuit on 30 June 2006

District Judge Alan Elliott will retire from the District Bench on the Midland Circuit on 30 June 2006

The Assets Recovery Agency has concluded its case involving Glenford Bailey, previously of Caledonian Road, London, N7. Over £38,000 cash plus jewellery and watches has been surrendered to the Agency. ...

As announced in the Chancellor's March Budget, VAT on condoms and other contraceptive products will be cut tomorrow from 17.5 per cent to 5 per cent, leading to immediate reductions in the prices paid by consumers...

Home Office Minister Tony McNulty today challenged police and practitioners to take a more robust and unremitting approach to tackling anti-social behaviour by making maximum use of the dispersal powers available...

With Met Office forecasters predicting hot weather across many parts of England this weekend, the Highways Agency advises drivers to take drinking water with them on their journeys.

The Wine Standards Board (WSB) will merge with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on 1 July 2006, Defra announced today. The merger will help simplify and reduce the number of enforcement bodies currently operating...

A request that Defra Secretary of State David Miliband 'call in' for his own determination four applications to discharge treated sewage effluent, and sewage effluent in an emergency, into the English Channel at...

You can now apply for these online with Defra's new internet service for farmers, the Whole Farm Approach, at www.wholefarm.defra.gov.uk. The Whole Farm Approach allows Defra to work in partnership with other organisations...

Defra is undertaking a comprehensive revision of its current guidelines for fertiliser use.

NHS ambulance trusts in England are to be given a £25 million boost to help deliver further improvements to response times for the most urgent calls, under a new incentive scheme announced today by Health...

The following letter has been sent to The Times and The Guardian today and its contents are being widely distributed.

Mr David Reddaway CMG, MBE has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to Ireland in succession to Mr Stewart Eldon CMG, OBE who will be taking up a new appointment as UK Permanent Representative on the North Atlantic...

Mr Stephen Wordsworth LVO has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to Serbia in succession to Mr David Gowan CMG who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service. Mr Wordsworth will take up his new appointment...

A new independent charitable trust is bringing together the alcohol industry, medical professionals and government experts to reduce the health and social problems caused by alcohol misuse.

Asked about views expressed by David Blunkett on the performance of the Civil Service during evidence to the Public Administration select committee, the Leader said he had not been aware of it. He would prefer to...

The Leader said that on Monday, July 3, under the heading of Estimates, there would be debates on Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law (Caroline Flint for the Government), followed by The Work of the Electoral...

The last few days saw the PM run a mile for charity, meet some war heroes, reflect on the progress made since Gleneagles and take a trip to Northern Ireland.

Press briefing from Leader of Commons on: Forthcoming Business and Other Business

Her Majesty The Queen has signified Her intention of appointing Peter Haworth to be a Taxing Master of the Surpeme Court with effect from 1 July 2006.

13th Edition of SER

Xlerate with xl was developed at the request of the Scottish Executive and The Hunter Foundation (THF) aiming at young people in secondary school who are not achieving their full potential. Xlerate is supported...

Xlerate with xl was developed at the request of the Scottish Executive and The Hunter Foundation (THF) aiming at young people in secondary school who are not achieving their full potential. Xlerate is supported...

Compensation payable during July 2006, in England, for a bovine animal compulsorily slaughtered for disease control purposes will be as detailed below.

The Queen has been pleased to appoint Mrs Marion Teresa Brewis as Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Wigtown

The Queen has been pleased to approve three appointmnts to Her Majesty's most honourable Privy Council.

The Queen has been pleased to approve that The Earl Peel DL be appointed Lord Chamberlain of Her Majesty's Household.

Scottish Survey of Achievement: Practitioner's Report and Technical Annex: 2005 Scottish Survey of Achievement (SSA) English Language and Core Skills. The SSA is the annual national survey of pupils' attainment ...

An executive summary based on findings for analysis of the Scottish Household Survey childcare questions. Analyses in the report look at differences in childcare arrangements, satisfaction with childcare and reasons...

The report is based on findings for analysis of the Scottish Household Survey childcare questions. Analyses in the report look at differences in childcare arrangements, satisfaction with childcare and reasons for...

Estimates of employment in the public sector in Scotland from Q1 1999 to Q1 2006.

Examines the community care and mental health needs of, and current service provision for, sensory impaired adults in Scotland.

Examines the community care and mental health needs of, and current service provision for, sensory impaired adults in Scotland.

Main Points This Month

My honourable friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Ed Balls) has made the following Written Statement.The Treasury has been working closely with the Financial Services Authority and industry on the development...

I am today announcing the Government's response to Sir Peter Gershon's independent review of Royal Family and ministerial air travel.Sir Peter's independent report highlights the need for significant improvements...

Growth slows in 2006

Annual 2005: UK deficit falls

Economy rose by 0.7% in Q1 2006

The OFT today announced that it is to study the UK airports market with a view to establishing whether the current market structure works well for consumers.

The Treasury has been working closely with the Financial Services Authority and industry on the development of a UK covered bonds regime. UK covered bonds are based on well-accepted market standards and benefit ...

On 27 March I made a statement to the House on council tax capping. In this, I set out the action that the Government proposed to take, under the Local Government Finance Act 1992, against two local authorities ...

I am pleased to announce that following the successful completion of an internal review the Ministry of Defence has decided to take up an option with MAN ERF UK Ltd. to buy a further 2,077 cargo vehicles as part...

I represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Luxembourg on 19 June 2006.The Council adopted a proposal confirming the overall rural development budget for 2007-13, and the...

The informal meeting of EU Health Ministers took place on 25-26 April in Vienna. I represented the UK. Items on the agenda were; Type 2 Diabetes; Pandemic Influenza Preparedness; and Women's Health.On Type 2 Diabetes...

I should like to set out the Government's proposals for ensuring that the law for England and Wales on the treatment and care of people suffering from a disorder or disability of mind, who lack capacity and who ...

Following my corrected written statement of 25 May I asked my Department to recheck all the figures provided to the House in my statement of the 23 May, Official Report, column 77WS.The director general of the immigration...

The Government are today publishing the report of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Zahid Mubarek at Feltham Young Offender Institution which was announced by my predecessor, my right hon...

I am today announcing the Government's response to Sir Peter Gershon's independent review of Royal Family and Ministerial air travel.Sir Peter's independent report highlights the need for significant improvements...

I am grateful to the Intelligence and Security Committee for its valuable work and its latest annual report. Following consultation with the Committee over matters that could not be published without prejudicing...

On 25 May I published the current list of Cabinet Committees, their full membership, and terms of reference.I have decided that it would be more appropriate for MISC 13 to be called the Ministerial Committee on ...

A consultation document and Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on changes needed to secondary legislation to implement provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1236/2005(1 )concerning trade in goods which could...

Sir Rod Eddington is currently conducting a transport study looking at the long-term impact of transport decisions on the UK's productivity, stability and growth, within the context of government's commitment to...

On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the BFI inspection reports on the following councils were published today: East Lothian Council, Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough ...

Streetwise cartoon characters Gaz, Shaz and Chaz will be helping young drivers face up to accident hazards in a new interactive DVD from the Highways Agency.

A one minute guide to the EU is being launched today by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.europe.gov.uk