Commenting on the commencement today of new police powers to detain terror suspects for up to 28 days, and on the banning from tomorrow of four groups concerned in terrorism, Home Secretary John Reid said:

The PMOS told journalists that this was, remarkably, the first ever visit to California by a serving British Prime Minister. The reason why was that it was the 6th or 7th largest economy in the world, but it was...

Asked further about the Government's action plan on obesity, and would it follow similar lines to the plan the Government had on smoking, the PMOS said that people should wait and see what the Prime Minister said...

Asked for further information on the Prime Minister's talks with Prince Saud today, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) replied that where we had been going since St. Petersburg was the idea of developing...

To follow-up Mr Blair's health speech this week, we will be holding a webchat with Dr Fiona Adshead, the government's Deputy Chief Medical Officer.

Press briefing from the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman on: Middle East, Health and PM's trip to US

Fair, Effective, Transparent and Trusted: Rebuilding Confidence in our Immigration System - a paper setting out the Home Secretary's vision on how the Government can work to improve the way IND tackles immigration...

The Higher Education - Business and Community Interaction Survey provides measures of the main commercialisation and knowledge transfer activities undertaken by Scottish and UK Higher Education Institutes during...

Beijing: UK Biodiversity Minister, Barry Gardiner, today invited Chinese academic institutions to join with UK partners to find suitable alternatives to the parts and derivatives of endangered species used in traditional...

The expert group brought together to examine the design of phase 1 clinical studies published its interim report today.

Ian McCartney, Minister for Trade, Investment & Foreign Affairs, said today the UK would be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Services Directive.

The Third Annual Report on the implementation of the 2003 Energy White Paper was published today.

Minister for Disabled People Anne McGuire announced yesterday that Sally Witcher, currently Chair of the Disability Employment Advisory Committee (DEAC), has been appointed as an Assistant Director of the Government...

Following large-scale arrests of Taliban in Pakistan, Foreign Office Minister Dr Kim Howells said today:

In a major speech on Wednesday, the Prime Minister will reflect on how the role of the state in promoting social progress has evolved.

The Queen has been pleased to appoint Mrs Jean Tulloch as Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Dumfries upon the retirement of Captain Ronald Cunningham-Jardine on 19 September 2006.

In April 2004 PSPS Pathfinders were established representing an extension of the existing work of educational psychology services. The aim of the PSPS is to promote better outcomes for young people and to contribute...

In April 2004 PSPS Pathfinders were established representing an extension of the existing work of educational psychology services. The aim of the PSPS is to promote better outcomes for young people and to contribute...

A draft Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill published today includes proposals that will:

The Government is today launching an initiative to encourage more people, irrespective of background, to think about a career in law.

A new Large Facilities Council will be created by merging the current responsibilities of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) and the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils...

Toasters, laptops, and washing machines will now have the chance to meet their maker a greener way as Malcolm Wicks, Energy Minister today gave business a clear timetable for implementing the EC Directive on Waste...

Investigates the prevalence and social context of drug driving in Scotland

Investigates the prevalence and social context of drug driving in Scotland

Public safety will be paramount under new guidance on human rights for Government departments and agencies, a Government review published today says.

Evaluation of six Scottish Arrest Referral Pilot Schemes

Evaluation of six Scottish Arrest Referral Pilot Schemes

The Highways Agency will continue its campaign to fight the problem of litter on strategic roads in the south east at Lakeside retail outlet on Thursday 27 July

My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has today published the eighth report of the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. The report provides an account of the work of the committee in ...

Copies of the British Council trustees' annual report and accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2006 have been placed in the Library of the House. During the period, the council received £189,...

I have today published a consultation paper on proposed custodial penalties for breaches of Section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1998. In an environment where concerns about identity fraud are growing and where...

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (John Hutton) has made the following Statement.I am pleased to announce that the Department for Work and Pensions has today laid the 2005-06...

My right honourable friend the Minister for Europe (Mr Geoff Hoon) will today lay before the House Foreign and Commonwealth Office Command Paper 6896 on prospects for the European Union 2006. This is the latest ...

The final report of the fraud review is published today and I have placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses. The Government are issuing it for consultation and seek responses by 27 October 2006.The report outlines...

Listed below are the names of special advisers in post at 24 July 2006, the special advisers' pay ranges for 2006-07, the number of special advisers in each pay band by department and the total pay bill of special...

My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has today placed the House of Lords Appointments Commission annual report for 2004-05 and 2005-06 in the Libraries of both Houses. The Government are grateful to the...

I have appointed Mr Justice Terence Etherton to be chairman of the Law Commission from 1 August 2006. He succeeds Mr Justice Roger Toulson, whose term of office will then be completed.I have decided that the needs...

My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has today published a list of gifts received by Ministers. The list provides details of gifts received by Ministers valued at more than £140 for the period...

Expenditure on ministerial overseas visits for the past three financial years and for the year 1996-97 is as follows. Year Expenditure £million 1996-97 7.9 2003-04 5.2 2004-05 5.1 2005-061 6.1 1 The...

I have today placed in the Library of the House copies of the first annual report of the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland and of its business plan for the coming year.While the new service was formally...

The 2005 annual report on strategic export controls will be published today as a Command Paper. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House. The report describes UK policy and international developments in...

My honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Dr Kim Howells) has today laid before the House Command Paper 6892 entitled The United Kingdom in the United Nations. The Command ...

The Commission for Racial Equality's Annual Report 2005 is published today.Copies will be available in the House Library. Copies will also be sent to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales.

The Government are consulting on draft regulations to control outdoor advertisements and an accompanying draft circular and a partial regulatory impact assessment.The draft regulations and circular take forward ...

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (PCPA 2004) which commenced on 28 September 2004 provided for a three year transitional period in which policies in old style plans could remain in force pending adoption...

In our December response to the Kate Barker review of housing supply we committed to reform the planning delivery grant to support local housing delivery and conduct a wider consultation on local planning and housing...

The closing date for expressions of interest to the fifth housing PFI bidding round in support of our decent homes programme and for the provision of additional social rented housing was 31 March.My officials are...

I am today updating the House on the housing and regeneration review, launched in April this year by the Deputy Prime Minister the thenMinister for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member...

Key Performance Targets have been agreed for The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre for the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007.The agency's principal financial target for 2006-07 is to achieve a minimum dividend...

Careless handling of smokers' materials continues to be one of the major causes of UK accidental fire deaths in the home. Evidence has shown that Reduced Ignition Propensity (REP) cigarettes decrease the risk of...

The majority of planning appeals in England are decided by inspectors, but a small percentage are decided by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, usually because the development is large ...

Members will be interested to know that the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) will be jointly consulting on ways of making...

The Electoral Administration Act received Royal Assent on 11 July 2006. The Act aims to tackle four areas at the core of a healthy democracy by improving access, improving confidence, extending openness and transparency...

My noble Friend, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, has made the following written ministerial statement:"I have today published a consultation paper on proposed custodial ...

The supplement to the 2006 report of the armed forces' pay review body, making recommendations on the pay of service medical and dental officers, has been published today. Copies of the report are available in the...

The then Secretary of State for Defence, (John Reid), announced on 30 January 2006, Official Report, column 3WS the move of 4 Mechanised Brigade (4 Armoured Brigade) to the UK from Germany. At the same time, we ...

On 9 March 2006, Official Report, Column 961, I announced the settlement package for the Royal Irish (Home Service) (R IRISH (HS)) personnel being discharged as a result of the normalisation process in Northern ...

I am pleased to announce the severance package for the estimated 1,500 MOD civilians in Northern Ireland being made redundant during the period 1 August 2006 to 31 December 2008, as a result of the process of normalisation...

I have made clear my determination to ensure the armed forces on operations have the resources they need to do the job. I said I would update the House on developments in two particular areas of operational capability...

Copies of the British Council Trustees' annual report and accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2006 have been placed in the Library of the House. During the period the Council received £189,210...

I will today lay before the House the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Command Paper 6896 on "Prospects for the European Union 2006". This is the latest in a series of forward looks to the work programmes of the ...

I will today lay before the House the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Command Paper 6892 entitled "The United Kingdom in the United Nations".The Command Paper provides a comprehensive overview of the work of the...

The Healthcare Commission has today published its investigation into outbreaks of clostridium difficile at Stoke Mandeville hospital (Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust). Copies of the report have been placed in...

On 25 May 2006 I informed the House that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had published its final report on the investigations into the incident that occurred with the phase 1 clinical...

I announce that the 2005-06 annual report and accounts for the Criminal Records Bureau have been laid before Parliament. Arrangements are now in hand for their publication and copies will be placed in the House ...

The Justice and Home Affairs Council will be held today, 24 July 2006, in Brussels. I am attending on behalf of the Home Office. I thought it would be useful if I were to outline the main issues I expect to be discussed...

I wish to announce that the publication entitled Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals—Great Britain—2005 is being presented as a Command Paper (6877) today. Copies will be placed in the House Library...

The Privy Council has made an Order in Council, the Consular Fees (Amendment) Order 2006, which gives authority for a revision in passport fees. The revision will take effect on 5 October 2006. The fee for a standard...

The UK Passport Service annual report and accounts 2005-06 have been laid before parliament today and will be published shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House on publication. This will be the...

I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Lebanon and in the Gaza Strip.In Lebanon, the crisis has led the UN to estimate that at least 500,000 people have been displaced. Insecurity and damaged...

On 15 May, members of the Northern Ireland Assembly were recalled to participate in a process to secure the full restoration of the institutions in Northern Ireland on or before 24 November. The Assembly rose on...

I have today published a list of gifts received by Ministers. The list provides details of gifts received by Ministers valued at more than £140 for the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006. Copies of the...

Expenditure on Ministerial overseas visits for the last three financial years and for the year 1996-97 is as follows: Expenditure (£million) 1996-97 7.9 2003-04 5.2 2004-05 5.1 2005-06(1) 6.1 (1 )...

Listed below are the names of special advisers in post at 24 July 2006, the special advisers' pay ranges for 2006-07, the number of special advisers in each pay band by department and the total pay bill cost of ...

I have today placed the House of Lords Appointments Commission Annual Report for 2004-05 and 2005-06 in the Libraries of both Houses. I am grateful to the members of the Commission for the report and their valuable...

I have today published the eighth report of the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. The report provides an account of the work of the Committee in advising former Ministers and Crown servants...

I have today placed in the Library of the House copies of the first Annual Report of the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland and of its business plan for the coming year.While the new Service was formally...

The overall payment performance of Government is 96.87 per cent. Figures for the financial year 2005-06 show that there has been a slight fall compared to last year's figure of 97.09 per cent. Some 54 per cent of...

I have today laid a copy of the Coal Authority report and accounts for 2005-06 before Parliament.

I have today laid before Parliament the annual reports and accounts for 2005-06 for the eight Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) outside of London. Copies have been placed in the House Library.The annual report...

In my written ministerial statement of Tuesday 18 July 2006, Official Report 18-19WS the Department published new targets for journey times in urban areas. The target included for Merseyside unfortunately used an...

I am today announcing 14 major new measures to ensure that the release of data from the UK vehicle registers is undertaken in a way that:Protects vehicle keepers from misuse of their information;ensures that those...

I am pleased to announce that the Department for Work and Pensions has today laid the 2005-06 annual reports and accounts for three of its executive agencies: Child Support Agency (HC1402), the Disability and Carers...

On 6 June I wrote to Members to advise them that I had commissioned a review of the administration of the financial assistance scheme and would report the outcome before the summer recess. In particular I was concerned...

The Ministry of Defence today welcomed the National Audit Office (NAO) report on the Bowman programme, which is currently delivering benefits to armed forces on operations.

Measures to remove layers of red tape and bureaucratic regulation from the way legal services are provided moved closer today as Government received the report of a committee that has been examining the proposals...