In Focus

Mohammed Modhu, a bankrupt, has been sentenced to six months in prison by Luton Crown Court for removing £23,000 from his estate while undergoing bankruptcy proceedings, and failing to account for the same.

Alan Pickering CBE has been appointed the independent chair of the Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme (RMSPS) by Postal Affairs Minister Edward Davey.

The Government has today published legislation which will fundamentally transform and strengthen financial regulation in the United Kingdom, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mark Hoban, has announced. The new regime sets out a clear, coherent and comprehensive regulatory framework, replacing the uncertainty and inadequacy of the previous structure, and helping to mitigate against future risks to stability.

UK Export Finance today announced that Northern Bank will be the first local bank in Northern Ireland to deliver its bond support scheme, which helps exporters with trade finance facilities.

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk today announced the appointment of Lucy Armstrong as the new chair of Capital for Enterprise Limited (CfEL).

The main findings for December 2011 were:

UK Export Finance has worked with Lloyds Bank to help Manchester-based WRG Creative Communication win new business in Qatar.

A new comprehensive and interactive calendar of key enterprise events throughout 2012 has been unveiled by Business Minister Mark Prisk.

A new focus on improving care for children and young people will be unveiled later this year, Secretary of State Andrew Lansley announced today.

New powers to help councils cut the disruption caused by road works were announced today by Transport Minister Norman Baker.

Companies of all shapes and sizes have today been asked for their views on how to tackle unnecessary bureaucracy in company and commercial law.

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

Government investment in technology and innovation will enable Britain’s world leading digital businesses to benefit from future advances in technology and help them bring new products to the marketplace, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced today.

Athletes resident outside of the UK who compete at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will be exempt from income tax, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander will announce in Glasgow today. The decision mirrors a similar exemption in place for London 2012.

The Government today published its annual grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

The Creative Industries Council has endorsed a report into improving the skills of people working in the sector.

The Council, which is co-chaired by Business Secretary Vince Cable and Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, met for the second time yesterday and was told what needs to be done to realise the full growth potential of the UK’s creative industries.

Thousands of patients will benefit from tests to match treatment to their DNA

Plans for a lorry road user charging scheme to create a fairer deal for UK hauliers were announced today by Roads Minister Mike Penning.

Today Foreign Secretary William Hague, joined by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts, will launch a new gateway for UK higher education institutions to build on their international success.

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

There is now broad consensus across the main political parties and many business and investor groups in support of “responsible capitalism”. This precludes lavish payouts for failure or mediocrity, and addresses widening inequalities in remuneration. There is also a common understanding that Britain’s recovery from its profound economic crisis must be led by successful private enterprise and that entrepreneurs and good managers will expect competitive rewards. The debate on executive pay has to reconcile these two objectives. That is what I will try to do today.

The Chancellor, George Osborne today announced the re-appointment of David Miles as an external member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

The Department of Health has today published the terms of reference for two reviews established following the recent concerns about PIP implants.

Following the highly successful Met Office weather app on iPhone, weather forecasts from the Met Office are now available for Android. The app can be used on all android phones and includes a widget so information can be accessed directly from the dashboard.

HMRC is reminding VAT-registered businesses that all VAT returns must be submitted online from this spring, meaning paper returns will soon be a thing of the past.

The future of post offices up and down the country has been secured by Government action, funding and a new agreement between Royal Mail and the Post Office, Postal Affairs Minister Edward Davey announced today.