On 26 April the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) handed down its judgment against Charles Taylor, former President of Liberia. The SCSL found Taylor guilty of all 11 charges against him, including crimes... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

I am announcing proposals to simplify and extend the processes where the police prosecute specified offences, (which currently cover a range of low level traffic cases), to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Today, I am issuing directions under section 40(9) of the Airports Act 1986 to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) not to make references to the Competition Commission (CC) in respect of mandatory airport charges... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

The regional growth fund (RGF) has allocated conditional offers to the value of £1.4 billion to projects and programmes during the first two rounds of bidding during 2010 and 2011. Below is an update on ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

I am pleased to announce the publication today of “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability—progress and next steps”, the Government’s response... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

The coalition Government, as part of their reform of the public bodies sector, have committed to undertake triennial reviews of all Executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies.

As part of this... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Mr Paice), represented the UK on 26 April covering the agriculture items... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

I promised to update the House about ongoing activity in relation to Winterbourne View private hospital and other services for people with learning disabilities.

The House will wish to note that nine people... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

I am today announcing the outcome of the red tape challenge spotlight on equalities, alongside the Government response to the consultation on the reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

On 7 March 2011 the Government announced our initial plans to introduce temporary airspace restrictions during the London Olympic and Paralympic games to help protect key games locations from potential airborne... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

My statement of 14 July 2011, Official Report, column 55WS, announced a phased trial of operational freedoms at Heathrow airport to gather evidence in relation to the greater use of tactical

measures, in... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

The DWP’s Work programme providers are required to ensure that stringent controls are in place to guard against fraud and to adhere to high standards of compliance in the operation of our

contracts... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

My honourable friend the Minister of State for Business and Enterprise (Mark Prisk) has today made the following Statement.

The regional growth fund (RGF) has allocated conditional offers to the value of... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Caroline Spelman) has today made the following Statement.

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

The United Kingdom Debt Management Office (DMO) has today published its business plan for the year 2012-13. Copies have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses and are available on the DMO’s website... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

A meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council will be held in Brussels on 15 May 2012. The following items are on the agenda to be discussed:

Revised Capital Requirement Rules (CRD IV)

Following... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

I should like to provide an update to the House regarding the continuing programme of investment at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE).

On 3 April 2012 an agreement was reached between the Ministry ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Following our decision last month to withdraw diplomatic staff from our embassy in Bamako temporarily and suspend all in-country services, we have reopened our embassy and resumed in-country services, including... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

I am today publishing two documents relating to the regulation of medical devices and other cosmetic interventions and stemming from the fraudulent use of non-medical grade silicone in the breast implants manufactured... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

On 5 April 2012, I launched the National Careers Service, and published “The Right Advice at the Right Time” in which I said that we would establish an independent National Council for Careers.Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

I am announcing a change in legislation to protect public finances and prevent tax avoidance. This follows a decision of the Court Justice of the EU which affects the way in which the UK treats certain face value... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

The Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council will take place in Brussels on 10-11 May. The culture, audio-visual and sport issues will be taken on 10 May. I will represent the UK at the culture and audio-visual... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

I wish to inform the House today of the findings of the Army board of inquiry into the accident involving Squirrel ZJ 247 on 29 May 2008.

The purpose of the board of inquiry is to establish the circumstances... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

I am announcing today that the Government are introducing the Electoral Registration and Administration Bill into the House of Commons. The Bill will tackle electoral fraud by speeding up the introduction of ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

I have received the annual report of the Veterinary Products Committee and its sub-committees 2011, which has been published today.

Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will attend the Foreign Affairs Council on 14 May. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development will... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Yesterday, the panel of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights met and rejected Abu Qatada’s request for a referral of the Court’s 17 January judgment to the Grand Chamber.

... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

The Terrorism Act 2000 (Codes of Practice for the Exercise of Stop and Search Powers) Order 2012 has been laid before Parliament today. This order introduces codes of practice for Great Britain and Northern Ireland... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

I am required under subsection (11) of section 203 of the Equality Act 2010 to report to Parliament on the exercise of a harmonisation power provided for in that section.

This reporting requirement is triggered... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

The judiciary play a critical role in the administration of justice. It is therefore vital that we select candidates for judicial office on merit, through fair and open competition, from the widest range of eligible... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

My hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces and I wish to make the latest of our quarterly statements to the House giving details of the inquests of service personnel who have died overseas. As always, we... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

The Government have today introduced legislation to enable the filming and broadcast of selected court proceedings in England and Wales.

As a first step, we plan to allow filming of judgments and legal ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Following yesterday’s State Opening of Parliament, and for the convenience of the House, I am listing below 15 Bills which the Government intend to bring forward in the current Session:

Banking Reform... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

The second Session UK legislative programme unveiled in the Queen’s Speech on 9 May contains measures of relevance to the people of Northern Ireland.

The following is a summary of the legislation ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

The legislative programme for the Second Session was outlined by Her Majesty on Wednesday 9 May.

The Government remain committed to reducing the deficit and restoring economic stability. This programme ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

The Government’s legislative programme for the Second Session of Parliament was announced in the Queen’s Speech on 9 May. The programme contains a wide range of measures that will apply to Wales, ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

I am pleased to inform the House that there has been a recent change in the prime contractor network delivering the Government’s flagship Work programme.

Interserve, the international support services... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

The Government have previously announced that we will work with credit unions to look at ways in which the future progress of this sector can best be supported.

A feasibility study looking at how credit... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Asked to clarify the meetings between the PM and Rupert Murdoch, the PMS said that Downing Street had published the list of meetings and was confident that the list was correct. Asked whether the Government regarded... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Thursday 26 April 2012 ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Asked to clarify the number of times the PM had met Rupert Murdoch since the last election, the PMS said that Downing Street had already published details of meetings and we were confident that those details were... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Asked whether there were going to be any announcements on troops pulling out of Afghanistan from the Defence Secretary, the PMS said that there was no new information on troop numbers in Afghanistan. original... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Thursday 26 April 2012 ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Asked if the ONS GDP figures were to be revised down, that it would be a forward step, the PMS said that the ONS did revise its GDP figures from time to time, but that he was not going to speculate on any revisions... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Following yesterday's State Opening of Parliament and for the convenience of the House, I am listing below 15 Bills which the Government intend to bring forward in the current Session:

Banking Reform Bill... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

My honourable friend the Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning (John Hayes) has today made the following Statement.

On 5 April 2012, I launched the National Careers Service... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Food and Farming (Jim Paice) has today made the following Statement.

I have received the annual report of the Veterinary Products Committee and its sub... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Asked if the ONS GDP figures were to be revised down, that it would be a forward step, the PMS said that the ONS did revise its GDP figures from time to time, but that he was not going to speculate on any revisions... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Asked to clarify the number of times the PM had met Rupert Murdoch since the last election, the PMS said that Downing Street had already published details of meetings and we were confident that those details were... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Asked whether there were going to be any announcements on troops pulling out of Afghanistan from the Defence Secretary, the PMS said that there was no new information on troop numbers in Afghanistan. original... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Thursday 26 April 2012 ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Asked to clarify the meetings between the PM and Rupert Murdoch, the PMS said that Downing Street had published the list of meetings and was confident that the list was correct. Asked whether the Government regarded... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Thursday 26 April 2012 ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Asked whether the PM was planning to make a speech about the economy, the PMS said the Government was going to stick to its plans on the economy, reducing the deficit to keep interest rates low. Asked whether the... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Asked whether the PMS could clarify the number of times Rupert Murdoch had met the PM, the PMS said that Downing Street had published a list of all the PM's meetings. Asked to clarify on the rules for ministers... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Thursday 10 May 2012 ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Asked whether the unemployment figures released that morning showed green shoots, the PMS said that the figures showed encouraging signs and were a step in the right direction, but there was still a long way to... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.

Wednesday 18 April 2012 ... Read more. (cached), Summary and Responses (0), Email this.