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From this page you can access the latest Government news – national news and specifically for the North West.

Pot of gold helps Trafford's young people make a difference in community
Published: 07/10/08
There's a Pot of Gold (POG) helping Trafford's young people make life better for themselves and their communities.

"not a 24 hour makeover" - Minister meets leaders driving change in Cheshire
Published: 03/10/08
Local Government Minister John Healey met the team driving a revolution in local government in Cheshire, which will aim to deliver greater community engagement and more visible and accessible services for its citizens.

New report tackles neighbourhood Studentification problem in North West
Published: 03/10/08
A new report that identifies ways to help councils manage high concentrations of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) was published by Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint.

£25m to Kick-start better buses
Published: 03/10/08
Ruth Kelly, Transport Secretary, announced £25 million to provide new and improved bus services across England. This will better connect local communities with vital services - like hospitals, business centres and colleges - and help tackle congestion and rural accessibility by giving people more alternatives to their car.

Local authorities dive in for £140 million free swimming fund
Published: 24/09/08
Nine million people over 60 are set to get free swimming as Culture Secretary Andy Burnham tannounced that more than 80 per cent of local authorities are to join a Government scheme.

£80,000 boost for charities in the North West over the next year
Published: 18/09/08
Voluntary and community sector organisations in the North West have received £80,000 for the next year to help people get the right benefits and tax credits.

Cumbria communities in control over Council cash
Published: 18/09/08
New steps were announced this week as part of a nationwide drive to put more power into the hands of local people. This comes ahead of legislation later this year to "put communities in control".

£91.8m Government investment in North West transport
Published: 18/09/08
A new bypass that will remove thousands of vehicles a day from residential streets in Sefton and crucial work to upgrade a vital gateway into Liverpool have been given the green light, after Transport Minister Rosie Winterton announced a new £91.8 million funding package for these important North West schemes.

Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire offered additional funding to tackle youth crime
Published: 18/09/08
Sixteen North West local authority areas are being offered a share of £56.5million to tackle youth crime, the Government announced.

Traffic signs in Britain - biggest review in 40 years launched today
Published: 15/09/08
Transport Minister Rosie Winterton has called on motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, highway authorities and road organisations who are keen to have a say in how our streets will look in the future, to take part in the biggest review of British road signs for 40 years.

Local authorities encouraged to take the plunge on free swimming
Published: 15/09/08
Local Authorities across England have one week left to take up the Government's free swimming offer.

Almost £20M Grassroots Grants scheme opens its doors to small voluntary and community groupsin the North West
Published: 15/09/08
The Government's groundbreaking Grassroots Grants scheme declared itself open for business on 4 September 2008 and called on small local voluntary and community groups across the North West to come forward and get their hands on £19,962,262 of essential funding.

Cumbrian companies urged to achieve export ambitions
Published: 12/08/08
International Trade Director for the North West visits the region to encourage businesses to go global

10 million for coastal resorts in first wave of Sea Change grants
Published: 07/08/08
A new 20,000 capacity performance space, a revitalised Napoleonic fort and improved facilities at a world class heritage site will all go ahead in England’s coastal towns following the award of over £10 million from the Government’s Sea Change programme.

Facing the Housing Challenge – Action Today, Innovation for Tomorrow
Published: 17/07/08
A series of further measures and reforms designed to help alleviate the current challenges in the housing market and to support the vital delivery of more homes over the long-term, are being announced today by Housing Minister Caroline Flint.

Preparing Britain for the future
Published: 15/05/08
North West Regional Minister seeks views on proposed new laws

Minister confirms funding for new deal for communities in North West in 2008-09
Published: 10/04/08
Communities Minister Baroness Andrews today announced that deprived communities across the country will benefit from over two hundred million pounds in 2008-09. This money will be paid through established neighbourhood partnerships to help boost job opportunities, raise educational achievements and reduce levels of crime.

Expert panel discusses plans for bus passenger champion
Published: 30/01/08
Plans to give bus passengers across England a more influential voice began to take shape as experts met yesterday .

DCMS conducts first national study of voluntary arts activity in England
Published: 30/01/08
On 1 February, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will be launching the first ever national survey of amateur arts groups in England.

Everyclick and Clear Channel Outdoor launch the UK’s largest competition for charities
Published: 07/10/08
Charities can register now for the challenge at www.everyclick.com/awards, where they will be placed in one of three charity categories (small, medium or large, depending upon their income). The six month challenge period starts on 15 October and ends on 31 March 2009. Throughout this time Everyclick will keep a tally of how much is being raised for each charity via their supporters’ online fundraising. Five charities within each category will then be shortlisted based upon the amount of money raised through Everyclick during the competition period as a proportion of each charities declared income and the amount raised per supporter. The finalists will then be judged by a panel of independent sector experts who will select three category winners and an overall winner who will receive the prize of a free national outdoor advertising campaign. The panel will judge the entrants on money raised and the innovative and imaginative ways they have encouraged their supporters to use Everyclick.

New Sustainable Framework for homes and jobs in the North West
Published: 30/09/08
A new regional strategy that directs long-term housing and economic growth and environmental protection in the North West was announced by Communities Minister Baroness Andrews today.

Further support for tackling chewing gum litter in Blackpool
Published: 23/09/08
Local efforts to tackle chewing gum litter are receiving a boost from the Chewing Gum Action Group. The group is supporting 15 local authorities, including Blackpool, in running individual month-long chewing gum litter awareness and education campaigns between August and November. The Blackpool initiative begins on Wednesday 24 September. Campaign support includes advertising posters and assistance with wider activities designed to promote a behaviour change among gum litterers.

Inequities are killing people on a "grand scale" reports WHO's Commission
Published: 29/08/08
A child born in a Glasgow, Scotland suburb can expect a life 28 years shorter than another living only 13 kilometres away. A girl in Lesotho is likely to live 42 years less than another in Japan. In Sweden, the risk of a woman dying during pregnancy and childbirth is 1 in 17 400; in Afghanistan, the odds are 1 in 8. Biology does not explain any of this. Instead, the differences between - and within - countries result from the social environment where people are born, live, grow, work and age.

Extra funding available for North West's rural stations
Published: 15/05/08
Passengers on rural and regional rail services across the North West are in line to benefit from a £60,000 fund for Community Rail Partnerships, Rail Minister Tom Harris announced today.

Government publishes Draft Legislative Programme 2008-09
Published: 15/05/08
The Government today highlighted four key themes of its initial plans for next year’s Parliamentary session as it launched a consultation to give people their say on the shape of the final legislative programme.

'Thunderbird' training for Firefighters funded by Government
Published: 10/04/08
Fire Minister Parmjit Dhanda has announced a further £3.2million grant to England's Fire and Rescue Authorities as part of the Government's ongoing commitment to support the roll-out of the specialist New Dimension equipment.

Education maintenance allowance works for Merseyside's teenagers
Published: 10/04/08
More Merseyside teenagers than ever before are receiving Educational Maintenance Allowances (EMA) to help build themselves a better future through education.

15 locations shortlisted for next stage of eco-towns programme
Published: 10/04/08
The country's first eco-towns took a step closer to becoming reality as Housing Minister Caroline Flint today announced 15 potential locations will go forward to the next stage, providing the opportunity for a major boost in affordable housing across the country whilst tackling climate change.

Public consultation on proposed changes to draft North West Regional Spatial Strategy
Published: 31/03/08
A public consultation on the Proposed Changes to the draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the North West of England has been launched.

Cheshire invited to come forward on social housing
Published: 29/02/08
Housing Minister Caroline Flint has invited Cheshire County Council to develop its proposal to provide new social rented housing today, as part of the Government's new 'Housing for an Ageing Society' Strategy.

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•  The Government Office Network – Personal Information Charter (26kb)
  

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