Discussions have begun regarding plans for the salvage of 'Riverdance', the ro-ro ferry which is currently stranded off the north shore near Blackpool.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne has this week kick started a national and international consultation on changes to Britain's visa system.

Gordon Brown has today launched a new drive to encourage children to do more sport.

The Prime Minister has paid a visit to the headquarters of Staffordhsire police to learn more about community policing.

Falmouth Coastguard are presently coordinating assistance to the `Horncliff', a refrigerated vessel, owned by Pluto shipping company, which has three injured people on board, one seriously, after losing 60 containers...

A surveyor has been sent to jail and a damp proofing business fined thousands of pounds after they ripped off a number of elderly people across the Midlands.

We're supporting this year's Rural Futures Conference 'Dreams, Dilemmas and Dangers', bringing together those who live and work in rural areas with those who make and implement policy, and those...

Asked if the Government agreed with the United States view that Germany should be more active in the south of Afghanistan, the PMS said that ultimately we would like to see Afghan troops taking over responsibility...

Put that there had been a report in the media that the Flanagan Report was being hastily re-written, to include more stop-and-search measures and the cutting of red tape in it, the PMS replied that that was not ...

Asked what the Government's view was on Chinese company Chinalco buying a stake in Rio Tinto and was this discussed during the Prime Minister's recent visit to China, the PMS said that he did not want to comment...

Asked if the Prime Minister planned to ask the Cabinet to reveal which family members they were employing, the PMS replied that he thought that the question being asked was really a question about the relationship...

Asked if there were any plans to allocate or rent out the Admiralty Arch flats, the PMS replied that there were no plans to do so, but it would be best to check with Cabinet Office on the matter, as they had received...

The Prime Minister's Spokesman began by telling the assembled press that when speaking at the Youth Sport Trust's Sports Colleges Conference, the Prime Minister would call for a national team effort by parents, ...

Briefing from the Prime Minister's Spokesman on: Sports colleges conference, Admiralty Arch flats, MP's employing family members, China, Flanagan report and Afghanistan

Defra has today confirmed that another two dead wild mute swans, collected on 28 January as part of wild bird surveillance in the same area in Dorset have tested positive for highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza...

Friday 1 February - Saturday 2 February

Eighteen British companies at the cutting edge of science are to attend a world-leading trade fair thanks to UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).

Businessmen involved in the marine industry have been taking advantage of a unique buyers' event at the 2008 Collins Stewart London Boat Show.

More than 150 British firms working in the telecommunication sector will be exhibiting at the biggest mobile communication show in the world.

HM the Queen has appointed David John England to be a District Judge on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Jack Straw MP. The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, has assigned...

We're supporting this year's Rural Futures Conference 'Dreams, Dilemmas and Dangers'.

The conference will bring together those who live and work in rural areas with those who make and...

The Prime Minister will today call for a national team effort by parents, teachers, sporting talents and volunteers to help make sport a central part of every child's life and unlock their talent.

New guidance to encourage the NHS to work jointly with the pharmaceutical industry to improve patient care was welcomed today by health minister Dawn Primarolo.

Results of 2007 Scottish Vacant & Derelict Land Survey

3 Jan - Low-paid and ‘working poor’ - IPPR report

3 Jan - Criminal justice: drug and drug-related offending - AIC report

Plans to upgrade Manchester's tram for the 21st century were given the final seal of approval by Transport Minister Tom Harris today as he signed off the last part of a £102million improvements package...

Plans to move forward with a £85.3 million refurbishment of the historic Blackpool and Fleetwood tram system were announced by Transport Minister Tom Harris today, with the Government contributing &...

Asked for any response to Charles Clarke's criticisms today, the PMS replied that we would not be commenting on anything that Charles Clarke has said. He was entitled to express his views, and as we had said previously...

Asked why there were no business women accompanying the Prime Minister on his recent visit to China and India, the PMS replied that this was not true - Carla Furse was involved on the trip and was present for the...

Asked if the Prime Minister was generally sympathetic to the proposal that the National Audit Office should carry out spot checks on MPs' expenses, the Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) replied that the Prime Minister...

Briefing from the Prime Minister's Spokesman on: MP's Allowances, China/India Trip and Charles Clarke

Main Points This Month

My honourable friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Kitty Ussher) has made the following Written Statement.

I am announcing today the publication of a consultation document on reforming the taxation...

My right honourable friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Jane Kennedy) has made the following Written Statement.

In a Written Ministerial Statement of 10 October 2006, the previous Economic Secretary...

In a written ministerial statement of 10 October 2006, the previous Economic Secretary undertook to report to Parliament on a quarterly basis on the operation of the UK's counter-terrorism asset freezing regime...

Recent disclosures to HM Revenue and Customs indicate that individuals are claiming relief against income tax for manufactured payments that are paid using tax avoidance schemes and that substantial sums of tax...

I am announcing today the publication of a consultation document on reforming the taxation of aviation. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made the announcement at pre-Budget report 2007 that...

I propose to deliver my Budget statement to the House on Wednesday 12 March.

I am announcing today the launch of a review of the distribution formula for dedicated schools grant (DSG).

In my statement to the House on 25 June 2007 I announced that although the DSG for 2008-11 would...

I have today written to local authorities to remind them of our policy and guidance on rural schools. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

This statement updates the House on the defence training review (DTR) rationalisation programme and BORONA programme following announcements made last year on DTR on 25 October 2007 (Official Report, column 15WS...

The Ministry of Defence has for some months been in discussions with solicitors representing a group of Porton Down veterans regarding compensation claims arising out of their participation in the programme of...

I can inform the House that the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA) will be publishing its second quarterly report recording figures on service personnel assessed with a mental disorder on its website at...

Earlier this month I set out the ten key changes to Britain's border security and immigration system that we will deliver in 2008. As part of these reforms I said that it was important that we act more sensitively...

Following the Home Secretary's statement of 13 December 2007, I would like to update the House on the latest position regarding the revocation of Security Industry Authority licences following immigration checks...

The statistics for 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 show that the number of police operations in which firearms were authorised was 18,053.

The police discharged a conventional firearm in three incidents.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and I wish to make the following statement to the House about the inquests of service-men and women who have died overseas. The Government are very proud...

Following the Government's response to the report by Lord Carter of Coles into the long-term supply and demand of prison places in 5 December 2007, Official Report, column 827, I would like to provide the House...

Statistics showing insolvencies in the fourth quarter 2007 are published today (1 February) by the Insolvency Service. These can be found along with an electronic version of this press release at www.insolvency...

Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, today witnessed the start of excavation work on the longest road tunnel under land in the UK. Ms Kelly viewed plans to improve a notorious traffic bottleneck on the A3, the only ...

Crew remaining on board the grounded cargo ship Riverdance on the foreshore at Blackpool have been unable to get the vessel refloated under her own power overnight and are now being evacuated from the vessel. Rescue...

Stornoway Coastguard has coordinated the rescue of 14 crew members on board the UK Registered fishing vessel Spinning Dale which has run aground on rocks at Village Bay, St Kilda.

The OFT today launches its 2008 Scams Awareness Month to raise awareness of mass marketed scams which cost the UK public £3.5billion a year.

A new THINK! campaign to highlight the dangers of using a mobile phone when driving was launched today by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick.

Met Office looks to development of ten year climate forecasts to strengthen UK contingency planning On the day that marks 25 years since the Thames Barrier was first raised to protect London from possible flooding...

Passengers and non essential crew have been airlifted from the vessel Riverdance which has now grounded on the foreshore at Blackpool. Rescue Helicopters from Royal Navy, RAF and Irish Coastguard have been on scene...

Liverpool Coastguard is coordinating the rescue of four passengers from the roll on roll off ferry Riverdance four miles off Fleetwood in the Irish Sea. The 19 crew are likely to stay on board for the time being...