Tough new measures to tackle irresponsible drinking Labour’s Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, has announced new measures to tackle irresponsible drinking. Measures announced today will include banning irresponsible promotions such as “all you can drink” offers, ensuring free tap water is available for customers and requiring all those who sell alcohol to check the ID of anyone who looks under 18 A nationwide consultation on the measures generated over 7,000 responses to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder, which costs the UK an estimated £8 billion to £13 billion a year. Any premises that breach the new mandatory code could lose their licence. Labour’s Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: “Alcohol-related crime costs the UK billions of pounds every year and while the vast majority of retailers are responsible, a minority continue to run irresponsible promotions which fuel the excessive drinking that leads to alcohol-related crime and disorder. “These practices have a real impact on society not to mention the lives of those who just want to enjoy a good night out. The government and the industry have a duty to act, this mandatory code will allow us to take action against an issue which affects us all. “We have consulted extensively with the public and the alcohol industry to ensure that these conditions will only target the most irresponsible practices that most people agree should not happen anywhere.”... Read full article from the original source.
Published - 19 Jan 2010 - 05:07 pm
Haiti funding trebled International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander, has announced that the Labour Government will treble its funding for humanitarian relief in response to the Haiti earthquake. Based on assessments on the scale of the disaster, aid will rise from 10 to 30 million dollars. The additional 20 million dollars will be put to work providing further relief and recovery work, including food, shelter, basic sanitation and health services. Labour’s International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander, said: “It is now clear that the international community is dealing with an almost unprecedented level of devastation. “Our initial assessments show a level of humanitarian need which would severely test the international response in any circumstances. But the impact of this earthquake is magnified because it has hit a country that was already desperately poor and historically volatile. “To address the needs of the immediate humanitarian response the UK Government will pledge a further million, on top of the million initially donated.”... Read full article from the original source.
Published - 18 Jan 2010 - 05:07 pm
Gordon Brown speaks to Fabian New Year Conference Speech to the Fabian New Year Conference 2010 by The Rt. Hon Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Let me say first, that today the concerns of the people of Haiti are now a cause for the whole earth, their tragedy a summons to action for every continent. And I want to thank the British people; the generosity of their spirit, our willingness to give even when some people have so little to give, humbles me . And we the British government have tried in our own way to match the generosity of the British people with an initial 10 million. But it must now be said of Haiti, the poorest country in the western world, the country that in a short span has suffered three devastating hurricanes and now been shattered by one of the world’s worst earthquakes, that its wounded people need not just charity for a day, or sympathy for a week, but all that compassion can offer. In response to the plight of poorest in every part of the globe, Douglas Alexander is putting into law the requirement that 0.7 percent of GDP be spent on development aid, a target we are already ahead of schedule to meet. In the last 12 years we have cancelled the debts of the poorest, and tripled aid to combat poverty. That’s compassion in action – the life-saving difference a Labour government makes. And so let it be said of us, that... Read full article from the original source.
Published - 16 Jan 2010 - 01:07 pm
Haiti Earthquake Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. Earlier this week, it was struck by an earthquake about 10 miles south-west of the capital Port-Au-Prince and is facing a major humanitarian crisis. Initial estimates are that some six million people live in the affected area, and one million people in the worst affected area. The Labour Government has already sent vital equipment and trained UK experts to help in Haiti, where they are desperately needed. Today the Labour Government announced 10 million dollarsin funding to support humanitarian relief work in Haiti. Labour’s International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “It is already clear that we are facing a major humanitarian crisis. Haiti needs help and it needs it now. “The most pressing need is for international search and rescue teams – including firefighters from all over Britain - to get on with their work of saving lives. “But at the same time there is an overwhelming requirement for food, water, sanitation, shelter and medicine among the people who have been made homeless. “That is why the Department for International Development is providing money to help kickstart humanitarian relief in Haiti.” You can find out how you can help the relief efforts in Haiti by visiting the Disasters Emergency Committee website at http://www.dec.org.uk/ or call 0370 60 60 900... Read full article from the original source.
Published - 14 Jan 2010 - 03:07 pm
Free computers and broadband access Labour’s Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has announced that 270,000 low income families will receive a free computer and free broadband access. The announcement, backed by a £300m investment, come on the same day as further measures are discussed in Parliament, including a promise that all parents will be able to benefit from online reporting and increased one-to-one tuition for children falling behind, While Labour is continuing to provide more opportunities for children and young people, the Conservatives continue to refuse to protect frontline services like schools. By refusing to back Labour’s school leaver’s guarantee of a place in education or training for every 16 and 17 year old who wants one, they risk consigning a generation to the scrap heap. Gordon Brown said: “As every family becomes a broadband family, every home will be linked to a school. For those finding it difficult to afford this, today I can announce the nationwide roll out of our home access programme to get laptops and broadband at home for almost 300,000 families. That promise is backed up by a £300 million investment that will see, by March next year, free laptops and broadband for 270,000 low income families across the country. “We realise that for parents to influence and engage in the education of their children they need rich, varied and easily accessible information on the progress, behaviour and attendance of their children. That is why we have said that from 2010 all secondary schools – and from 2012 all primary schools... Read full article from the original source.
Published - 11 Jan 2010 - 02:07 pm
Biggest expansion of wind energy ever seen The Labour Government has announced plans for the biggest expansion of wind energy ever seen. Britain is already the world leader in offshore wind energy. And today, the Crown Estate, owner of the UK’s coastal seabeds, has granted rights to energy companies to bring about the biggest expansion of wind energy ever seen in the world. This opens up the potential for up to 6,400 offshore wind farms, generating 32GW – far exceeding previous plans. Investment in UK offshore wind overall could be worth £75 billion and support up to 70,000 jobs by 2020. While the Labour government is committed to taking an active role in creating green jobs and long-term sustainable growth, across the country Conservatives oppose new wind power proposals. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Our island has one of the best wind energy resources in Europe and today’s news shows that there’s a huge appetite for capacity to be built here. We now need to make sure we’re poised to harness the potential that appetite brings for business for UK companies and new green jobs. We did it before with oil and gas in the North Sea and we’ll do it again for offshore wind.”... Read full article from the original source.
Published - 8 Jan 2010 - 05:07 pm
Labour launches Boiler Scrappage Scheme Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband have launched the Labour Government’s Boiler Scrappage Scheme. The national scheme will upgrade household boilers – helping people save money on fuel bills, cutting carbon emissions and sustaining work in the heating industry. Up to 125,000 households in England with working low efficiency, “G-rated” boilers will be entitled to £400 off the price of a new, modern “A-rated” boiler or a renewable heating system. Labour’s Prime Minister, Gordon Brown said: “Today’s announcement will slash household energy bills and carbon emissions while providing an important boost for the British heating industry. The Government’s new scrappage scheme will help to secure 250,000 jobs across the tens of thousands of small and medium businesses involved in boiler manufacture, sales and installation that form a vital component of Britain’s low carbon economy. The scheme shows how this Government continues to invest in the British industries and jobs of the future.” Labour’s Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband, said: “The Boiler Scrappage Scheme will save around £200 off heating bills per year for families that are replacing their old boilers, and in total will save the same amount of carbon equivalent to taking around 45,000 cars off the road. “The Scheme will add to the existing package of Government measures to help householders be smarter about the energy they use, leading to permanently reduced fuel bills and cutting emissions.”... Read full article from the original source.
Published - 5 Jan 2010 - 06:07 pm
George Osborne’s £34 billion credibility gap – Darling Over the last few years, hardly a week has gone by without the Tories making a promise on tax or spending. No one has been keeping track of their promises, certainly not George Osborne. Until now. The Labour Party has today published a factual account of the cost of the Conservatives’ promises. It exposes the credibility gap in the Tories pledges - £34bn of promises they cannot explain how they fund. Until they explain how they will plug this £34bn gap in their list of promises, they cannot credibly say anything about what they’ll do on the deficit. It is now time the Tories were straight with people - are these more promises they don’t intend to keep, like their ‘cast iron’ guarantees on Europe? Or what extra taxes or unannounced cuts to services are they planning? Alistair Darling MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “The Tories have made over £45bn of promises, but can barely explain how they can pay for a quarter of this. This leaves them with a credibility gap of £34bn. “These are not long forgotten promises from another time. All have been confirmed in the last two years. Most have been repeated in the last few months. “You can’t fight an election on a nod and a wink; sometimes claiming you are committed to these promises, and when challenged claiming you are not. “It’s now for them to say when and how they’ll be paid for. Or come clean and withdraw them.”... Read full article from the original source.
Published - 4 Jan 2010 - 07:07 pm
Gordon Brown outlines efficiency savings Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown has made a speech outlining plans for more efficient and smarter government. Gordon Brown said that power must shift to users of public services and set out measures including cutting the senior civil service pay bill by 20 per cent, halving government spending on consultants, merging or abolishing 123 government arms length bodies – with greater oversight for the remainder – and relocation of more staff outside London and the South East. At a time when budgets are tighter, we must be relentless in finding new ways to save money to protect front line services. Today’s announcements show that Labour are willing to take the tough decisions needed. Labour Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said: "As the country emerges from recession, taxpayers want more than ever to see their contributions used in the same way they manage their own finances: by getting maximum value for money. When money is tight, families look at what they need, tighten their belts and put off those things they can do without. And government will do the same. "Before 1997 successive governments skimped on the investment that our public services depend on, and became complacent about the quality of the services they provided to the public. Since then, this historic under-investment has been corrected and what were once seen as ambitious goals are increasingly seen as the norm…For example, today if you need to see a consultant as an out-patient your wait for treatment is on average just over... Read full article from the original source.
Published - 7 Dec 2009 - 02:07 pm
Prime Minister’s Speech on Afghanistan The Prime Minister delivered a speech on Afghanistan at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London on 6 November 2009: Let me first of all thank Admiral Style and everyone here at the Royal College of Defence Studies for the vital work you are doing in support of the development of international strategy and leadership, and doing so right across the world. It’s a great privilege to be able to speak to the college Fellows today and to support your leadership programme. And to this event today I am particularly pleased to be able to welcome General Parker, who is about to take up his new post as the Deputy Commander of international forces in Afghanistan, and also I am pleased to welcome several senior serving officers from the Afghan and Pakistan armed forces. This weekend - as we do each year - we remember the sacrifices made by generations of our armed forces who have given their lives in the service of this country. We celebrate their courage, we honour their extraordinary dedication, and we remember them with pride. For the sacrifice and the great achievements of our armed forces are defining features of our nation: a testament to the strength and irrepressible spirit of a Britain always prepared to do what is necessary to protect the liberty and security of its people; a Britain that fights for its values, that stands up against the things we know are wrong. And this is not just an essential part... Read full article from the original source.
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