In Focus

Latest Government figures show that more than 60,000 British travellers reported their passport lost or stolen abroad between April 2009 and March 2010.

The directors of Wrapit Plc (“Wrapit”), a failed wedding gift company based in Wandsworth, London, have been disqualified from acting as company directors for a combined total of 15 years following an investigation carried out by The Insolvency Service on behalf of the government.

•        Lord Davies of Abersoch to report on how Government can remove obstacles to women making it to the board

Commenting on the Regulatory Policy Committee’s first report, Sir Don Curry, Non-Executive Chair of the Better Regulation Executive, said:

The new Task Force on Farming Regulation are calling for opinions and ideas on ways to improve approaches to regulation as part of a wide ranging consultation launched today.

The free online service from the Highways Agency which provides a quick and easy route planning and notification system for hauliers transporting abnormal loads has seen a steady increase in use since its recent upgrade.

Business Secretary Vince Cable will visit the North East today to see how investment in low carbon technology is creating jobs and promoting growth in the region.

The Department of Health has announced its intention to explore options with the private sector for potential investment in NHS Professionals Ltd.

The Business Secretary, Vince Cable, today announced a comprehensive package of measures to support the Government’s drive to tackle unnecessary government interference and red tape.

The Department for Transport has today published the following Transport Statistics:

Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said:

UK businesses need to be ready to face the risks and benefit from the opportunities that climate change could bring, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said today.

An illegal Ukrainian immigrant at the centre of an organised £500,000 tax fraud has been jailed for three and a half years for his part in the scam at Woolwich Crown Court, following an HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) investigation.

The following statistics were released today by the Department of Health:

The Consumer Council for Water today (4 August 2010) warned that the Competition Commission’s final decision on how much Bristol Water can charge its customers until 2015 is well above what many customers will be willing to accept.

The Competition Commission (CC) has confirmed that Bristol Water plc can make a small increase in the prices it charges its customers above the five-year price limits previously set by Ofwat.

Consumers who are given false reassurances about their future health from genetic testing services will receive better protection under new guidelines for this booming industry.

On going enforcement work to tackle knife-crime and serious youth violence in the capital was seen first-hand by the Home Secretary Theresa May today.

The new Procure 21+ framework will save the NHS over £200m in procurement costs and will help upgrade hospitals more quickly, Health Minister Simon Burns announced today.

The central government freeze on non-essential advertising and marketing spend has resulted in significantly reduced volumes of work for the Central Office of Information (COI).

Farmers, suppliers and supermarkets are one step closer to having supply disputes investigated by a Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA).

Food businesses, including supermarkets and processors, should do more voluntarily to improve country of origin labelling on food products such as meat and dairy, Food Minister Jim Paice said today.

A further milestone in Northern Rock plc’s return to independence has been reached today, with notice that HM Treasury’s guarantee arrangements in place for the bank’s wholesale liabilities will end in three months time.

The Government is set to put the fight against malaria at the forefront of aid efforts in Africa, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell announced today.

The opening of two new wings at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) will make it Europe’s largest, Immigration Minister Damian Green announced today.