Press Releases

Foreign Secretary: Likely that some British nationals were on board Germanwings flight

The Foreign Secretary has said it is likely that there were some British nationals on board Germanwings flight that crashed today in French Alps.

UK Export Finance appoints Margaret Eyres as first Head of Direct Lending

UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency, has appointed Margaret Eyres as its first ever Head of Direct Lending.

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank joins UK Export Finance export working capital scheme

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank have signed an agreement with the UK’s export credit agency, UK Export Finance to become a participating bank in its export working capital scheme.

New tax rules help farmers

The government is providing further support to farmers by increasing the period in which they can average out their taxable profits.

Demolished M1 bridge will pave the way for new link road in Leicestershire

At 80 metres long and weighing more than the Blackpool Tower, it took more than 500 explosives for the Highways Agency to demolish a redundant bridge on the M1 in Leicestershire.

Cyber First: improving cyber skills in the UK

Francis Maude, Minister for Cabinet Office, announced the new Cyber First scheme to enhance the UK’s cyber security skills base.

Cable calls for new debate on role of adult further education

Employers and further education providers are asked to look into how the vocational education system is able to meet future skills challenges.

Committee members needed to help shape future flood plans

The Environment Agency is currently recruiting for new independent members for the Trent Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC).

Online resource to help young people decide on their future

A central list of post-16 courses will provide up-to-date and reliable information for young people, schools and parents.

Awards announced from £2 million homophobic bullying fund

Funds awarded to projects to train school staff and provide support for pupils affected by homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying.

Independent Living Fund reappointment of Chair and Vice Chair of board of trustees

Stephen Jack OBE and Professor Peter Cooke reappointed as Chair and Vice Chair of the Independent Living Fund board of trustees.

Israeli and UK academics to combat global cyber security threats

Francis Maude has announced joint working between Israeli and UK academics to combat global cyber security threats.

CMA lays out plans for coming year

The CMA has today published its programme for 2015 to 2016 aimed at helping markets to work well for consumers, businesses and the economy.

Government secures skills boost for major infrastructure projects

Bidders for major government infrastructure projects will have to provide evidence of their commitment to developing skills.

Love Your Rivers Telford secures £100K fund

The team behind the Love Your Rivers Telford project have secured a new grant of £100,000 which will fund the project for a further year.

Sports Minister urges sector to keep up momentum on Women in Sport

The Government's Women and Sport Advisory Board has published a Report with Recommendations to maintain progress in Women’s Sport

Greening: Drug resistant TB threatens to reverse decades of progress

Britain to remain at the forefront of the fight against TB by funding the development of a simpler, safer and more affordable treatment.

Press briefing: morning 24 March 2015

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesperson answered questions about Prince of Wales letters, the Alps plane crash and inflation.

Improved specialist employment scheme will double number of disabled people supported into work

Nearly 1,000 more disabled people a year will benefit from specialist employment support thanks to a new scheme announced today (24 March 2015).

Finance Bill 2015 brings in new tax changes

Tax changes to support hardworking families, incentivise business investment in the UK and create a fairer tax system.

Free flood warnings to be offered to EE customers in Staffordshire

In a first for England, the Environment Agency has teamed up with digital communications company EE to pilot a new scheme to send flood warnings to mobile phone users.

600,000 fewer workless households since 2010: Workless households now lowest in a decade

New figures show the number of workless households has fallen by more than 600,000 since 2010, the lowest in a decade.

Carter Review recommendations get underway

Expert group and Teaching Schools Council to take forward work to improve initial teacher training systems in England.

A flowing success - Loddon Rivers Week

The River Loddon was given another week of environmental enhancement and conservation as part of the ‘Loddon Rivers Week’ partnership project.

Gauging the health of Old Basing’s ‘green corridor’

Two new flow gauges in the River Loddon will improve The Environment Agency’s ability to monitor the health of the waterway in future.

CMA provisionally clears specialist insurance merger

The CMA has provisionally cleared the completed acquisition by Xchanging of certain companies comprising all of the European operations of Agencyport.

Millions saved in one month as switching energy supplier rockets

More than £38 million was saved by 130,000 households switching energy supplier - in just one month of the ‘Power to Switch’ campaign.

New National Minimum Wage offenders named and shamed

Business Minister Jo Swinson has named 48 employers who have failed to pay their workers the National Minimum Wage.

Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Afghanistan

Karen Pierce has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Rwanda Air to purchase two new aircrafts with Rolls Royce engines

Rwanda Air to purchase two new aircrafts from Airbus with Rolls Royce engines