Department for Business Innovation and Skills

Commenting on the report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Internocracy on unpaid internships, Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said:

The Government has published two command papers today setting out its response to reports published during the previous Parliament by the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee on Impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research and the Lords Science and Technology Select Committee on Setting priorities for publicly funded research.

The Hearing Aid Council (HAC) will close its doors formally as a Non-departmental Public Body on 1 August 2010.

Two former modelling agency Directors have been banned from running an employment agency for a total of twelve years following action taken by the Employment Agency Standards inspectorate (EAS).

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable today announced the appointment of Sir John Savill as Chief Executive and Deputy Chair of the Medical Research Council (MRC).

Today, the Prime Minister David Cameron and Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh agreed to the extension of the successful UK India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI), which has already created almost 600 new partnerships between UK and Indian institutions at all levels of the education system.  The new programme will be funded by both Governments.

Business Secretary Dr. Vince Cable has welcomed a series of multi-million pound deals that were announced on Thursday morning in New Delhi between UK and Indian firms.  The deals will support hundreds of jobs in the UK. 

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk has today announced a £1.5 million investment in the development of wave energy technology during a visit to the South West RDA’s Wave Hub project at Hayle.

A regional breakdown of the fight against piracy and counterfeiting in the UK has been revealed in a new report published today. 

Simon Fraser, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) has announced today that Geoff Dart will become the new Director of the Office of Manpower Economics (OME).

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable today announced the appointment of Professor Paul Boyle as Chief Executive and Deputy Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

The Default Retirement Age (DRA) will be consigned to the history books by October 2011 under proposals published for consultation by the Government today.

The UK and India are planning wide-ranging agreements in science and technology to cement bilateral cooperation in medicine, R&D, ICT, energy and education to the benefit of both counties.

Minister for Regional and local economic development, Mark Prisk and Minister for Decentralisation, Greg Clark,  today hosted a round table event with business groups, local authorities and think tanks to listen to their views on the creation of local enterprise partnerships.

Six successful bidders will share £660,000 match funding from the Department of Business for gas refuelling or electric vehicle charging infrastructure projects.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed today that motorists will receive up to £5,000 towards purchase of an ultra-low carbon car from January 2011.

Business Secretary Vince Cable today appointed Roger Cashmore as the Chair of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

Employment Relations Minister, Edward Davey, today announced the re-appointment of Ed Sweeney as Chair of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) Council.

The UK is set to benefit from a new generation of wireless services and improved mobile broadband coverage under new Government plans to revolutionise the country’s digital infrastructure, announced today.

Secretary of State for Business and President of the Board of Trade, Vince Cable and Minister of State for Universities and Science, David Willetts today arrived in Bangalore, India as part of a Government delegation promoting trade and business links between the UK and India.

Following the publication today of the Government’s response to the Legacy Report produced by the Science and Technology Committee in the last parliament, Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said:

Mark Prisk, Minister for Business, today announced continued terms of appointment to the Board of Yorkshire Forward.

Mark Prisk, Minister for Business, today announced continued terms of appointment to the Board of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).

Mark Prisk, Minister for Business, today announced continued terms of appointment to the Board of the South West RDA.

Mark Prisk, Minister for Business, today announced continued terms of appointment to the Board of NWDA.

Mark Prisk, Minister for Business, today announced continued terms of appointment to the Board of One North East Development Agency.

Mark Prisk, Minister for Business, today announced continued terms of appointment to the Board of East Midlands Development Agency.

Mark Prisk, Minister for Business, today announced continued terms of appointment to the board of the East of England Development Agency.

Mark Prisk, Minister for Business, today announced continued terms of appointment to the Board of Advantage West Midlands Development Agency.

Vince Cable and George Osborne today launched a paper to encourage an industry-led recovery by addressing the problems businesses face accessing finance.

BPP is the first private provider to become a university college in 34 years.

The Government announced today that Lord Heseltine will chair the Independent Approval Panel for the £1bn Regional Growth Fund.

The new group charged with developing guidance for university and higher education college charters has started work.

The Queen has approved the appointment of John Hayes MP as Minister of State at the Department for Education in addition to his current role as Minister of State at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Skills Minister John Hayes has today invited employers, individuals, colleges and training organisations to share their ideas on how they would like skills policy to be set out in the future.

OPERATIONAL NOTE- Not for publication or Broadcast

On Thursday 22 July, Minister for Further Education, Skills and lifelong Learning, John Hayes, will be launching a consultation on the future of skills policy at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London.

A new age of co-operation between the UK Space Agency and its Russian and American counterparts has been announced today.

A plan to foster growth and lock in the recovery will be published today by the Business Secretary Vince Cable when he appears for the first time at the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee.

OPERATIONAL NOTE – NOT FOR PUBLICATION

Media are invited to a speech by Science Minister David Willetts on the UK space industry on Wednesday July 21. 

John Hayes, Minister for Further Education and Skills, today announced a wide-ranging review of learning for offenders in prisons and in the community.