International development minister Gareth Thomas today announced £10 million to support flood-affected people in Bangladesh. The funds, available to organisations involved in relief work, will...

DFID has launched a new programme to help generate employment in southern Iraq. The £6m Southern Iraq Employment and Services Programme (SIESP) aims to provide 1.75 million days of employment...

The UK government is to give at least £15m to help the victims of the Asian earthquake that struck on Boxing Day.   

A further 45 tonnes of bottled water and collapsible jerry cans are to be sent to the Maldives where there remains a pressing need for clean drinking water. The UK Department for International Development...

Hilary Benn, UK International Development Secretary, who is in Nairobi today to attend the signing of the historic Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement...

The Spring Supplementary Estimates, presented to the House of Commons today, seek £7,067 million in resources and £6,074 million in cash. The Estimates seek increased resources and ...

UK consumers lose an estimated £1 billion per year to a variety of scams which exploit low-cost, mass-marketing techniques to target victims. The OFT has joined forces with trading standards...

Ten roofing contractors have been found by the OFT to have agreed to fix the prices of, and in some cases to share markets for, flat roofing services in the North East of England and in Scotland through...

Hundreds of homes, three churches, and a primary school are to be saved from collapse into the mines much of Bath was quarried from, Planning Minister Keith Hill announced at Combe Down today.   

University of the West of England awarded prestigious contract to educate UK planners   

* The mix-adjusted average house price in the UK in January 2005 stood at £178,796, little changed from £178,906 in December 2004 (not seasonally adjusted).   

A new £5 million programme to support the drive by councils and local agencies to create cleaner, safer and greener communities was today launched by Liveability Minister Phil Hope.   

Fire and Rescue authorities throughout England have a chance to bid for a share of a further £150m of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits, Fire Minister Nick Raynsford announced today (16th...

Almost £400 million Government funding is being allocated by 2008 to deliver proper infrastructure for housing in the three newer growth areas, Minister for Regeneration and Regional Development...

The Government is pushing ahead with its ambitious efficiency plans with the appointment today of Davis Langdon with Trowers and Hamlins as National Change Agent. Keith Hill, Housing Minister, announced...

The planning system will benefit from up to £240 million extra resources in the next financial year to help deliver sustainable communities, Planning Minister Keith Hill announced today. He ...

The Government's drive to keep housing at the top of its agenda received a major boost today with the regional allocation of £5.5 billion for investment in housing by councils, housing associations...

Government delivers a step change in devolved decision making   

A £65 million allocation for tackling housing abandonment and low demand outside the nine Pathfinder areas was today announced by Regeneration Minister Jeff Rooker.   

A £16 million Government grant to help revitalise areas in Hull and East Riding blighted by abandoned homes and low demand housing, was announced today by Regeneration Minister Yvette Cooper.   

The cost of fire to the economy of England and Wales was £7.7bn in 2003 - shows a new report published today.   

The Ministry of Defence today awarded the contract to build a brand new warship to VT Group, as production began on another vessel, the third Type 45 Destroyer HMS Diamond, at the Portsmouth shipyard.   

The Royal Air Force is a step closer to getting a modern air refuelling aircraft under a Private Finance Initiative programme worth £13bn. The British based AirTanker consortium has today been...

The Public Accounts Committee today published its report on the MoD's Battlefield Helicopter capability. Commenting on the report, Defence   

On 16 December 2004 Andrew Brian Armitage and Bernard Greaves, who together trade in Stockport as Birthday Bouncers, were each fined £2,500 and together ordered to pay £6,000 costs ...

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned of the need for effective operation, inspection and maintenance regimes to ensure the safe use of pressure equipment, following the prosecution of a chemical...

McDermott Bros Contactors Ltd (MBCL), a London-based construction company, was fined £150,000 at Southwark Crown Court yesterday. The prosecution, brought by the Health and Safety Executive (...

Metronet Rail BCV Limited has been fined £5,000 at the City of London Magistrates' Court yesterday following a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a contract cleaner...

Amey Rail Limited was fined £4,000 yesterday at Camborne Magistrates' Court in a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The prosecution followed an investigation into an...

Constructing Better Health (CBH), the construction industry's occupational health pilot scheme, received a welcome boost this week when the Association of British Insurers (ABI) pledged a contribution ...

Three defendants today received fines totalling £95,000, plus costs of £60,000, at Southwark Crown Court, London. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Lindsay Barr, David...

Fines totalling £650,000 have been imposed on two companies following the death of a woman at a British Sugar plc factory.   

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted a scaffolding company, Crowe Fabrications Ltd, before the Old Bailey, London, following an investigation into a fatal incident on 12 July 2002 at Hindred...

Circleworth Ltd, a London-based construction company, was fined £7,500 at the City of London Magistrates Court on Friday 11 March 2005. The prosecution, brought by the Health and Safety Executive...

As the Easter Holidays approach, the Health and Safety Executive has warned children not to play on building sites.   

Ten to 15 year olds are to face on the spot fines of up to £40 for anti-social behaviour, with the launch this week of a scheme piloting new police powers.   

In a ground breaking move, the National Probation Directorate (NPD) has recently saved nearly a quarter of a million pounds using an eAuction scheme as a key part of the process to buy new IT software ...

Launched today, 26th January 2005, a new UK-wide initiative - the Payroll Giving Grants programme - is rewarding any employer, with fewer than 500 staff, for setting up a Payroll Giving scheme with a cash...

Launched today, 26th January 2005, a new UK-wide initiative - the Payroll Giving Grants programme - is rewarding any employer, with fewer than 500 staff, for setting up a Payroll Giving scheme with a cash...

Police forces in England and Wales will benefit from one of the best funding settlements in recent years, Home Office Minister Hazel Blears confirmed today. Total funding for law and order will stand at...

The further success of police in tackling class A drug markets was demonstrated today as the Home Office published results from the first four weeks of Operation Crackdown. Within the first 28 days of ...

Home Secretary Charles Clarke today announced that the Home Office will devote £9.15 million to radical new approaches to help reduce women's offending.   

A second phase of major maintenance works to improve the A34 between Whitchurch and Litchfield is due to start on 13 September. The scheme involves resurfacing the northbound carriageway, and is due to...

A £1bn programme of major improvements to strategic roads of national importance by the Highways Agency over the next three years was confirmed today. This is in addition to the £900m...

A £3.5 million bridge and junction improvement linking the A3 to Thursley, Surrey, has opened today 6 December 2004, providing safer access for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders...

A £4.77 million resurfacing scheme to lay quieter road surfacing on a one-mile section of the A1(M), at Junction 1 (South Mimms) begins on Saturday February 5.   

The Transport Secretary Alistair Darling announced a £1.38 billion package of schemes today to improve safety and reduce congestion on key sections of the motorway network in Yorkshire, Hampshire...

  

  

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has fined Deloitte & Touche Wealth Management Limited (DTWM), £750,000 for serious compliance failings and for not taking reasonable steps to complete both...

The FSA has today fined Robert Middlemiss #15 000 for market abuse. In April 2002, Mr Middlemiss, the Company Secretary at Profile Media Group (PMG), became aware that PMG's revenues were likely to be ...

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has today fined Allied Dunbar Assurance plc £725,000 for serious flaws contained in its procedures for handling mortgage endowment complaints, which exposed...

The 2004 Spending Review will bring a massive £431 million from central government for sport over the period 2005 to 2008. This represents an annual funding rise of 31% from £118 million...

Seven items worth £6.8 million have been saved for the nation following export deferral during 2003-04.   

A new tourism agreement between the UK and China that will, for the first time, give the UK tourism industry access to a £15 billion market was welcomed by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell today...

Arts Minister Estelle Morris today confirmed that Culture Online will receive an additional £3million to spend on interactive projects in 2005-2006.   

Tessa Jowell today urged the tourism industry to meet the needs of 21st century, web-based consumers by getting behind EnglandNet - a new £10 million online one-stop-shop for holidaymakers in...

Fines and legal costs totalling £943.75 for large-scale fisheries offences are to be paid by the Master / Owner of the Giolla Na Mara, SO072, an Irish registered fishing vessel, Haverfordwest...

Work to protect and enhance wildlife in the West Midlands and the other seven English regions has been given a £2.5 million boost by the government.   

John Helliar, a dairy farmer, was fined £1500 today after pleading guilty to veterinary medicines offences. He was also ordered to pay costs of £2600.   

Food and Farming Minister Larry Whitty today announced awards totalling £1m to help the livestock and dairy sector adapt and prosper.   

Carers get extra £60m   

Health Minister Stephen Ladyman today announced funding of £60m for councils to develop innovative ways to help older people avoid emergency hospital visits and to live independently longer.   

Young people with mental health problems are set to benefit from a £5 million funding boost, with a significant proportion being given to projects that specifically work with black and minority...

CORRECTED VERSION PARA 6 - BEGINS "THE PROJECTS WE ARE SUPPORTING...   

An increase in prescription charges of 10p was announced today by Health Minister Rosie Winterton with the charge for a single prescription item rising to £6.50 on 1 April 2005.   

Funding for 21 new projects around the country to improve the health of local communities was announced today by Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson. An initial £1.2 million has been made...

Health Secretary John Reid today confirmed that the Department of Health has made savings of more than £150m as part of the on-going review of its Arm's Length Bodies (ALBs) - exceeding the target...

Minister announces new Valuing People report and winning bids for £2.3m of the Extra Care Housing Fund   

New funding for the implementation of innovative new training programmes for junior doctors was announced today by John Hutton, Minister of State for Health.   

Guaranteed pay rise for 1.3 million low paid workers   

Extra £1400 in best ever package for working parents   

Science allocations to make Britain best place in the world for science   

The UK Government today agreed a contract to undertake an upgrade of physical security at a key Russian Nuclear Research Centre. The contract, to be managed by experts from British Nuclear Group, will ...

Science and Innovation Minister, Lord Sainsbury, today announced £100 million for the next round of the Technology Programme with automotive, energy and aerospace sectors set to benefit.   

The UK government is today hosting the IAEA's International Conference on Nuclear Security: Global Directions for the Future as part of its G8 presidency year. The conference is taking place at the Mermaid...

£100 million a-year boost to small firms   

Science set to engage public through £500,000 in pioneering grants   

Science and Innovation Minister, Lord Sainsbury, today announced a £9.7 million investment in a world-first research experiment on particle physics, which is key to continuing exploration of ...

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) has injected over £112 million of added value into UK manufacturing since its launch in April 2002, Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced...

The UK Resource Centre for Women in SET (science, engineering and technology) received a £2.8 million boost Trade and Industry secretary, Patricia Hewitt, announced today.   

Boosting Pension Credit by almost an extra £10 a month will help tackle pensioner poverty, Work and Pensions Secretary Alan Johnson said today.   

Housing Benefit fraud and error has been cut by around £60m official estimates published by DWP today show.   

Foreign Office Minister Chris Mullin today announced £400,000 to help Ukraine destroy stockpiles of small arms and ammunition.   

Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell today launched the North Caucasus Education Initiative which will provide over £1 million towards education and training opportunities for the children and...

"Sustainable development is central to our foreign policy", Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said today, when he launched the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's first Sustainable Development Strategy and announced...