Amid the vibrant hubbub of Social Enterprise Day, the Government today backed social enterprise as the model to show how business with a conscience can be done. The Minister for the Third Sector, Kevin Brennan, spent the day experiencing the energy and innovation of the social enterprise movement. Setting out new milestones in government policy, he said:

Welcoming the Law Commission's recommendations for change to existing laws on bribery published today, Government anti-corruption champion and Justice Secretary Jack Straw said:

Policing Minister Vernon Coaker today published his Assessment of Minority Ethnic Recruitment, Retention and Progression in the Police Service. The report confirms police forces are already doing good work to aid minority ethnic recruitment, retention and progression in the police, with minority ethnic officer representation in the police service doubling over the last ten years, but recognises that there is still more to do.

Mr Keith Shannon has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova in succession to Mr John Beyer. Mr Shannon will take up his appointment during April 2009.

Ms Louise Stanton has been appointed British High Commissioner for The Republic of Malta in succession to Mr Nicholas Archer MVO who has transferred to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms Stanton will take up her appointment during January 2009.

Ms Sian MacLeod OBE has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Czech Republic in succession to Ms Linda Duffield CMG who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms MacLeod will take up her appointment during July 2009.

Universities Secretary John Denham today announced 27 areas in England interested in establishing new higher education (HE) centres, confirming strong local support for university expansion.

- England and Wales could save enough water to supply London, Birmingham and Cardiff if we were to follow German lead -

STATISTICAL PRESS NOTICE

Victims and witnesses who have successfully spoken out against crime and anti-social behaviour were praised today by the Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Adviser Louise Casey on a visit to Sheffield.

Consumers are more likely to stand up for their statutory rights than seek help or advice from official sources, a major new survey reveals.

The UK is officially free from Avian Influenza (AI) from today (20 November), according to the rules laid down by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

International creative business leaders come together in Liverpool for first cabinet ambassador meeting

Today, the Baha Mousa Inquiry has published its provisional Issues List. The list is intended as a guide to the issues on which the Inquiry's investigations will focus. It has been published on the Inquiry's website and sent to the prospective core participants under the authority of the Inquiry Chairman, the Right Honourable Sir William Gage.

Communities and Local Government today announced that Bob Lane OBE is the new Chair of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC).

Funding announced for innovative social enterprise projects

The agreement reached on the CAP Health Check in Brussels today is a step in the right direction of further reform, but it was also a missed opportunity to speed up the process of change, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said.

Three companies that offered a business network development service, which targeted unemployed former middle and senior management executives, have been wound up in the High Court following an investigation by the Companies Investigation Branch ("CIB") of the Insolvency Service.

A crackdown on the menace of reckless driving was announced by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick today as he unveiled a range of new proposals to tackle drink and drug drivers and other dangers on Britain's roads.

The Department for Transport has today published the following Transport Statistics:

HM The Queen has appointed Gillian Denise Brasse to be a Circuit Judge on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Jack Straw MP. The Right Honourable The Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales has assigned her to the South Eastern Circuit, based at Edmonton County Court with effect from Thursday 4 December 2008.