France has advanced on the path of reforms in recent years, more than is commonly perceived.

A year ago, President Nicolas Sarkozy was elected on a reformist platform--that he termed a "rupture" with past policies--to tackle long-standing economic difficulties. The government has pushed through several initiatives, including measures to boost work, investment, and purchasing power, but the needed "critical mass" to boost lagging growth and tackle persistently high unemployment is still to come.

Investment in an integrated transport strategy is key to underpinning a successful economy said Transport Minister, Conor Murphy in his address to a Transport Conference.

The Welsh Assembly Government today announced that David Hawker has been appointed Director of the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills.

Delivering the National Programme for IT in the NHS is proving to be an enormous challenge. All elements of the Programme are advancing and some are complete, but the original timescales for the electronic Care Records Service, one of the central elements of the Programme, turned out to be unachievable, raised unrealistic expectations and put confidence in the Programme at risk.

On 18 May 1998, this House approved the first GCIS Budget Vote and this pioneering department was formally launched. As we look back over the ten years, and as we realise that this government's term will be ending within the next year, we can reflect on our successes as a country; far reaching, unprecedented, deep-rooted, society-changing successes in which we in the executive, the legislative and the administrative branches of government can all take pride. We reflect on our success as a government not from a partisan point of view but inclusively, to ensure that the track record of this government is understood and recognised.

The Honourable Michael M Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, today announced that the new Office of the Procurement Ombudsman is up and running to help ensure fairness and transparency in federal government procurement.

Thank you very much, Sub Lieutenant, for that kind introduction. Chief of Defence Staff General Hillier, Vice Chief Lieutenant General Natynczyk, all other senior members of the Armed Forces, Minister MacKay, Senator Oliver, I see Minister Taylor here from the provincial government, and of course, members of the Canadian Forces, ladies and gentlemen.

- Stephen Norris asked to join boards of London Development Agency and Transport for London
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has today confirmed that he will chair the board of Transport For London, assuming the position with immediate effect. The long term leadership of the board will be considered over time.

What is the ESF?

Set up in 1957, the European Social Fund (ESF) is the oldest of the EU's Structural Funds pursuing cohesion policy. It is the European Union's main financial instrument for investing in people. It is devoted to promoting jobs and helps Member States make Europe's workforce and companies better equipped to face new, global challenges. In short:

 The Prime Minister today outlined details of the three Home Office Bills that will be introduced in the next parliamentary session.