Six companies have today reached early resolution agreements with the OFT in which they have admitted engaging in unlawful practices in relation to retail prices for tobacco products in the UK, and have agreed to...

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers have seized 2,000 bottles of wine from a commercial premises south of Newry today. The action comes as part of the department's involvement in a E1m, EU-wide excise duty and ...

The Government will announce further measures to tackle knife crime on Monday following several knife-related deaths this week.

Most child trust fund providers only provide stakeholder trust funds....

There are currently no restrictions on the levels of gross-overcrowding that...

The Citizen's Advice Bureau ought to be a recognised, formal public service...

The public deserves an independent inquiry to scrutinise the use of tax-...

Asked what the Prime Minister's response was to the Data Review, the PMS said that the Prime Minister's response was that this was a review he commissioned, it was a very good and thorough review and it did not ...

Put that the Draft Legislative Programme events taking place around the country today appeared to be Labour Party rather than the Government, the PMS replied that the programme had been set out by the Prime Minister...

Asked about Russia labelling a British diplomat a spy, the PMS said we would not be commenting on intelligence matters. Put that it was a diplomatic matter, the PMS said we would not be commenting on this particular...

Asked whether the Government had any response to the rebels in Nigeria, the PMS said that our general position on this was that oil supply in Nigeria had been undermined by insecurity in the Niger Delta. This was...

Asked if he could confirm whether Harriet Harman had persuaded the Prime Minister to delay the Embryology Bill, the PMS said that as we had discussed at some length yesterday, he would not get into internal Government...

Put that Tony McNulty had likened David Davis to Homer Simpson for his decision to call a by election and did Downing Street share that view, the PMS said that we would not be commenting on Mr Davis. Asked if there...

Asked for more details on the Summit in Paris, the Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) told the assembled press that the French Government had said that they wanted the Summit to address four broad themes; economic...

Briefing from the Prime Minister's Spokesman on: European Council Summit, David Davis, embryology, Nigeria, Russia, Draft Legislative Programme and data review

Sotiris Andreas (50) and Pavlos Andronicou (61) were today sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court after being found guilty of importing cocaine into the UK. The 20 kilo concealment, of which 14.4 kilos were 100 per...

We’re looking at the service needs of people in rural areas following major life events. We’ll be spending time talking to rural service users to find out about their experiences. This work...

This short paper summarises the main elements of the new Communities in Control White Paper, launched by Communities and Local Government on 9 July, from our perspective.

We've produced a short paper summarising the main elements of the new Communities in Control White Paper from our perspective. The paper was launched by Communities and Local Government...

a query: you don't mention the role that community-led planning (parish and market town action plans, potentially extended to urban areas) could play in helping deliver a lot of the aims of the WP. It seems...

Thanks for your comment. Community led planning can play an important role in delivering the ambitions of the white paper. The white paper does state a commitment to creating funding to support community...

Defra has today published a final epidemiology report into the Avian Influenza outbreak confirmed in Oxfordshire on 4 June.

The picturesque train route between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier stations has today been officially awarded Community Rail status by Transport Minister Tom Harris.

On Monday, 14 July, representatives of companies that have won The Queen's Awards for Enterprise 2008 are attending an evening reception hosted by The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace.

We’re looking at the service needs of people in rural areas following major life events. We’ll be spending time talking to rural service users to find out about their experiences. This work...

Put that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill came back to the House for a third reading next week and was it still the position that it was a Government bill and all those in Government would be expected...

Asked what the Government thought about President Medvedev not being happy with the sanctions being imposed on Zimbabwe, the PMS said that the statement that the G8 issued which was agreed by all of the G8 was very...

Asked why the House of Lords reform came up in Cabinet again, the PMS said that we had previously said that we would update the House on where we were on House of Lords reform before the summer recess. original...

Asked whether the Prime Minister regretted misleading the House about vehicle excise duty (VED), the PMS said that he did not accept the premise of the question. The Prime Minister told the House on the 14th May...

The Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) told the assembled press that the Prime Minister had chaired Cabinet that morning. Cabinet was mostly taken up by an update from Jack Straw on where we were on House of Lords...

Put that Spectator magazine had reported that the Chancellor twice tried to hand his notice in to the Prime Minister during the run up to the Budget, the PMS said that he had no information on that story. original...

Asked why the Embryology Bill had been delayed, the PMS replied that Harriet Harman had given an explanation to that question today during Business Questions.Put that the Bill had been delayed due to cynical manoeuvring...

Asked repeatedly if the Prime Minister planned on correcting his response to David Cameron on 4th June that the majority of drivers would benefit from the change to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), the PMS said that the...

Asked if there was a response to the Russian Ambassador's call for clarification whether the Government believed that the Russian Government had been involved with the Litvinenko murder, the PMS said that in relation...

The Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) began by updating the journalists about Zimbabwe. The Prime Minister had said some words on Zimbabwe earlier today; there were now intense negotiations underway in New York and...

Briefing from the Prime Minister's Spokesman on: Cabinet, vehicle excise duty, House of Lords Reform, Zimbabwe sanctions, Embryology Bill and misc

Briefing from the Prime Minister's Spokesman on: Zimbabwe, Russia, vehicle excise duty, Embryology Bill and miscellaneous

The ABI (Association of British Insurers) and the Government have reached agreement that ensures flood insurance remains widely available now and in the long term.

This information sheet explains what support is available for Scottish postgraduate students studying in Scotland.

A report detailing the findings from an evaluation of a pilot across 7 local authorities of the distanced travelled framework for supporting people services.

A report detailing the findings from an evaluation of a pilot across 7 local authorities of the distanced travelled framework for supporting people services.

I represented the UK at the Informal Energy Council that took place in Paris on 4 and 5 July. This was held back to back with an informal Environment Council, reflecting the priority the French are giving to ...

I wish to update the House on the compact with offenders announced in the prison policy update paper of January 2008 and Written Ministerial Statement of 31 January (Official Report, col. 37WS). The compacts ...

I am pleased to announce that the School Food Trust, in partnership with LACA (Local Authority Caterers' Association) has released provisional findings from the third annual survey of take-up of school meals, ...

I represented the UK at the informal Energy Council that took place in Paris on 4 to 5 July. This was held back to back with an informal Environment Council, reflecting the priority the French are giving to the...

I answered the hon. Member for Fareham's parliamentary question on 12 June 2008 (Official Report, column 414W) on BERR departmental training.

We said that the staff training costs incurred by the Department...

I am pleased to announce that the School Food Trust, in partnership with LACA (Local Authority Caterers' Association) has released provisional findings from the third annual survey of take up of school meals, ...

I am today publishing a consultation on proposals to improve planning policy statement 6: "Planning for Town Centres" (PPS6). Copies of the consultation are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Data reported by energy conservation authorities in England under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 in the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 2007 have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These data...

The 2007-08 annual report and accounts for the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science will be laid before Parliament today.

I am announcing the following DEL budget switches, in accordance with the Treasury's consolidated budgeting guidance. Resource DEL will be decreased by £48,761,000 from £2,928,970,000 to £2,880...

Today my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I are announcing the final stage of the UK's first global review of visa regimes.

Britain thrives as a society ...

I am today laying before Parliament, with the Comptroller and Auditor General, the annual report and accounts for 2007-08 for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. It is being laid before the Scottish...

The "2007-08 Annual Report and Accounts for the Judicial Appointments Commission" will be laid before Parliament today.

I welcome the publication of the second annual report of the Judicial Appointments...

I wish to update the House on the compact with offenders announced in the "Prison Policy Update" paper of January 2008 and written ministerial statement of 31 January, Official Report, column 37WS. The compacts...

I have placed copies of the "Youth Justice Agency's Annual Report and Accounts" for 2007-08 in the Libraries of both Houses.

This is the Agency's fifth annual report since its inception on 1 April 2003. ...

The Government are today publishing a consultation document and accompanying impact, assessment on the European Commission proposal for a regulation on the CO2 emissions of new cars, putting in place a framework...

Small and medium sized businesses have until the end of this month (July) to register for a three month trial which provides free access to thousands of public sector contract opportunities.

People who commit sex offences against children abroad will face prosecution in the UK, even if that offence is not illegal in the foreign country it was committed, Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker announced today...

HM the Queen has appointed Anthony John Seys Llewellyn QC to be a Senior Circuit Judge (Designated Civil Judge for Wales) on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Jack Straw MP. The Lord Chief ...

His Honour Judge Rupert David Hingston Bursell QC is due to take early retirement on 11 July 2008.

Women apprentices are making great strides in traditionally male-dominated areas, said Skills Secretary John Denham as he congratulated the finalists and winners from this year's Apprenticeship Awards.