Archive of articles from 2004

Targets not met, but Royal Mail defends performance

The chief executive of Royal Mail has defended the company's performance after the latest figures show that it has failed to meet its delivery targets.

Rammell concerned by Chechen elections

The UK has expressed serious concerns about the conduct of this weekend's Chechen presidential election.

Think-tank backing for London Olympic bid

Two leading think-tanks have argued that an Olympic Games in London could offer tangible benefits for the country.

Communities are "fighting back" says PM

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) are giving communities the chance to fight back against "yobs", according to the Prime Minister.

Minister to visit North Korea

Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell is to become the first ever British Minister to visit North Korea.

Government debt breaching Maastricht Treaty

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the UK is breaching its obligation under the Maastricht Treaty to keep its net borrowing under three per cent.

Slow down in consumer lending

New figures from the Bank of England appear to show that the boom in consumer credit is easing.

European policy vindicated by IoD survey, says MacShane

The Minister for Europe has claimed that a recent survey from the Institute of Directors is a vindication of the Government's policy towards Europe.

Postal voting pilots "marred" with problems

The Electoral Commission's report into the conduct of the all-postal ballots in June's European Parliament and local elections has concluded that they were "marred by problems."

McConnell announces £6 million boost for wind farm

Scotland's First Minister has announced that £6 million of public money will be used to support a Scottish consortium planning to construct an off-shore, deep water, wind farm.

TUC presses for more public holidays

On the eve of the August bank holiday, the TUC has called on the Government to introduce new public holidays to bring the UK into line with the rest of Europe.

New protection for school playing fields

School playing fields will get greater protection against sale and development under new rules announced by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA).

Government "keen to learn" from voting pilots

The Government has pledged to study carefully, and learn from, today's Electoral Commission report into postal voting.

Backing for Government review of political restricted posts

The Employers' Organisation for local government (EO) has given its backing to a review of the restrictions governing political activity by council employees.

Sport to be big part of Labour's manifesto, says Clarke

Promoting school sport will be a major part of Labour's next election manifesto, Education Secretary Charles Clarke said today.

This week's key appointments

With the August "silly season" in full swing and most of the UK's political operatives away on holiday, this week has been incredibly quiet on the appointments front.

More entries and better results for GCSE pupils

Today's GCSE results show a rise in the number of entries and the biggest rise since 1999 in the number of pupils achieving A*- C grades.

Howard challenges political correctness

Michael Howard has launched an attack on the "culture of political correctness" in the UK.

Hutton promises to strengthen NHS "poaching" code

Government stresses "ethical" recruitment

The Health Minister has reacted to criticism that the NHS is continuing to poach staff from developing countries by strengthening the recruitment code.