Category
Westminster
'UK will stand firm on EU rebate'
Britain's £3bn EU rebate is not up for renegotiation at next week's European Council summit, Jack Straw said. The foreign secretary told MPs the rebat…
EU China arms ban 'to be lifted'
The EU embargo on arms exports to China is likely to be lifted in the next six months despite US objections, UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said.…
Crisis 'ahead in social sciences'
A national body designed to tackle skills shortages in key subjects should be set up, a committee of MPs has said. There was an "absolute crisis" in t…
Minimum rate for foster parents
Foster carers are to be guaranteed a minimum allowance to help cover their costs, the government has announced. Payment levels vary from area to area,…
Visa decision 'every 11 minutes'
Visa processing staff are sometimes expected to rule on an application every 11 minutes, MPs have said. Pressure was placed on staff to be efficient, …
MPs issued with Blackberry threat
MPs will be thrown out of the Commons if they use Blackberries in the chamber Speaker Michael Martin has ruled. The £200 handheld computers can be use…
Ministers deny care sums 'wrong'
Ministers have insisted they are committed to free personal care for the elderly despite research suggesting the cost of the policy was under-estimate…
MPs assess Scots fishing industry
A group of MPs are on a two-day fact-finding mission to Scotland to gather evidence for a report into the UK's fishing industry. Members of Westminste…
Security papers 'found in street'
An inquiry is under way after files containing security details about the Pakistani president's visit to London were found by a member of the public. …
'Errors' doomed first Dome sale
The initial attempt to sell the Millennium Dome failed due to a catalogue of errors, a report by the government's finance watchdog says. The report sa…
Student 'inequality' exposed
Teenagers from well-off backgrounds are six times more likely to go to university than those from the most deprived areas, a report says. The Higher E…
Commons hunt protest charges
Eight protesters who stormed the House of Commons chamber during a debate on the Hunting Bill have been charged with disorderly conduct. The men were …
Straw praises Kashmir moves
The UK has welcomed the decision by India and Pakistan to open a bus link across the ceasefire line dividing the disputed region of Kashmir. Foreign S…
Sport betting rules in spotlight
A group of MPs and peers has called for a tightening of regulations controlling betting on sport. The Parliamentary Group on Betting and Gaming held a…
Student 'fee factor' played down
A rise has been recorded in the number of students from south of the border applying to universities in Scotland. However, Lifelong Learning Minister …
Row over 'police' power for CSOs
The Police Federation has said it strongly opposes giving Community Support Officers (CSOs) the power to detain suspects for up to 30 minutes. The pow…
Bid to cut court witness stress
New targets to reduce the stress to victims and witnesses giving evidence in courts in England and Wales have been announced by the lord chancellor. L…
England children's tsar appointed
The first children's commissioner for England has been appointed. Great Ormond Street Hospital professor of child health, Al Aynsley-Green, was chosen…
MPs quiz aides over royal income
Senior officials at the two bodies generating private income for the Queen and Prince of Wales are to be questioned by MPs. Aides from the Duchy of La…
Citizenship event for 18s touted
Citizenship ceremonies could be introduced for people celebrating their 18th birthday, Charles Clarke has said. The idea will be tried as part of an o…
Hospital suspends 'no Welsh' plan
An English hospital has suspended plans to stop treating Welsh patients who have waited more than three months. Hereford County Hospital had earlier s…
Talks held on Gibraltar's future
Two days of talks on the future of Gibraltar begin at Jack Straw's country residence later on Wednesday. Officials at the two-day summit at the foreig…
UK 'discriminated against Roma'
The government's immigration rules racially discriminated against Roma (Gypsies) seeking entry into the UK, the Law Lords have ruled. It follows a Hom…
Anglers 'could face prosecution'
Anglers and fishermen could find themselves prosecuted under plans to crack down on animal cruelty, a committee of MPs has warned. Sloppy wording of t…
MP attacked by muggers in Kenya
An MP has had more than £600 and his passport stolen after being mugged by six men in a park in Kenya. Quentin Davies, the MP for Grantham and Stamfor…
EU fraud clampdown urged
EU member states are failing to report fraud and irregularities in EU funds on a consistent basis, the UK's public spending watchdog has said. The Nat…
Research fears over Kelly's views
Scientists have expressed concerns that new education secretary Ruth Kelly's religious views could hamper vital scientific research. Ms Kelly, who is …
Blair hails Turkey-EU talks deal
Tony Blair has hailed a deal bringing Turkey a step closer to EU membership as important for the world's future "peace and prosperity". Mr Blair has b…
'Few ready' for information act
Thousands of public bodies are ill-prepared for the Freedom of Information Act, due to come into force next month, because of government failures, say…
Game warnings 'must be clearer'
Violent video games should carry larger warnings so parents can understand what their children are playing, the trade and industry secretary has said.…
McConnell in 'drunk' remark row
Scotland's first minister has told a group of high school pupils that it is okay to get drunk "once in a while". Jack McConnell was speaking to more t…
Brown calls for £5.5bn Aids fund
Gordon Brown has called on rich nations to fund a £5.5bn ($10bn) plan to fight the Aids epidemic and find a vaccine. On the fourth day of his six-day …
Drink remark 'acts as diversion'
The first minister's statement that it was okay to get drunk "once in a while" has diverted attention from the real issues, it has been claimed. Jack …
Councils 'must find Gypsy sites'
Ministers are telling councils to find more sites for travellers, amid continuing rows concerning a string of unauthorised encampments. Councils are a…
Ministers lose slopping out case
The Scottish Executive has lost an appeal against an inmate's compensation for being forced to slop out in prison. Armed robber Robert Napier, 25, won…
US casino 'tricks' face ban in UK
Controversial new UK casinos will be banned from using American tricks of the trade to ensure they are "socially responsible", it has been suggested. …
UK firms 'embracing e-commerce'
UK firms are embracing internet trading opportunities as never before, e-commerce minister Mike O'Brien says. A government-commissioned study ranked t…
Abbas 'will not tolerate' attacks
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said he will not tolerate attacks such as last Friday's suicide bombing in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. In an in…
E-University 'disgraceful waste'
A failed government scheme to offer UK university courses online has been branded a "disgraceful waste" by MPs. The e-University was scrapped last yea…
Tsunami 'won't divert Africa aid'
UK aid to help the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster will not take much needed relief from Africa, Prime Minister Tony Blair has promised. Mr Blai…
Tsunami debt deal to be announced
Chancellor Gordon Brown has said he hopes to announce a deal to suspend debt interest repayments by tsunami-hit nations later on Friday. The agreement…
Blair sets date for Africa report
The Commission for Africa's report will be released on 11 March - Comic Relief day, Tony Blair has said. July's G8 summit in Gleneagles in Perthshire …