Tag: Treasury

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 3 February 2005.

Increasing employment opportunities and boosting skills is essential for regional economic growth and productivity, the Chief Secretary of the Treasury – the Rt Hon Paul Boateng – outlined today in a visit to Kent.

Mr Boateng met with the business community in Gravesend to discuss skills and the new National Employer Training Programme which will offer a package of support to help those in work but with lower skills obtain basic skills or level 2 qualifications. The Programme will build on regional training pilots  – one of which began recruiting in 2003 in Kent and Medway – to encourage employers all over the country to train their low skilled workers.

Mr Boateng said:

“We recognise that there is an important regional dimension to our skills agenda and that there is a need for flexibility at the local level to innovate – responding to local conditions. Building on programmes such as the Kent and Medway pilot, the National Employer Training Programme will be providing free and flexibly delivered training for NVQ Level qualifications for low skilled adults across every region in the South East.”

Mr Boateng also visited the Holy Family Church Sure Start in Gravesend, and had the chance to discuss with parents and families their Sure Start project and other Government initiatives in the area to support families and children.

Investment in high quality childcare and children’s services is vital to eliminate child poverty, help parents into employment and protect children from harm and improve child outcomes. The Sure Start Centre in Gravesend is one of 9 in Kent and caters for 850 children, and focuses on improving social and emotional development, health, children’s ability to learn, and strengthening families and communities.

Choice for parents, the best start for children: a ten year strategy for childcare published with the Pre-Budget Report builds on the success of Sure Start and announces:

• all families with children aged up to 14 who need it will have an affordable, flexible, high quality childcare place that meets their circumstances;
• every family will have easy access to integrated services through Sure Start Children’s Centres in their local community. 2,500 Children’s Centres will be in place by 2008 and 3,500 by 2010 ensuring a Children’s Centre for every community; and
• a goal of 20 hours free high quality care a week for 38 weeks for all three and four year olds;

Paul Boateng said:

“Sure Start has delivered over 500 local sure start programmes to date, providing a range of early years, parenting and family support to children and families. The excellent results seen in Gravesend from this Sure Start are yet another example of why this is being rolled out nationwide.

“In addition many of the families I have met today will be benefiting from the Child Trust Fund payment – with an initial voucher worth £250 to ensure that at age 18 all children, no matter what their background, will have some wealth from which to plan their future”.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 4 January 2005.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown today set out the proposals the UK is making as president of the G7 group of Finance Ministers on how the G7 and the international financial institutions can provide further financial assistance to countries affected by the tsunami disaster.

Gordon Brown said today:

“Our proposal is that, with immediate effect, the Paris Club should expect no debt repayment from afflicted countries. That would then lead to an analysis of the needs of these countries, with the possibility of some debt relief, at the same time ensuring that the money goes to the people and areas in greatest need. Britain has put this on the agenda for the G7 Finance Ministers meeting at the beginning of February.

“That will be backed up by two other proposals: the International Monetary Fund will offer emergency assistance; and the World Bank, which has made an initial contribution for emergency relief, will add to that substantially with money for reconstruction.

“Therefore, the $2 billion figure which has been quoted as the world’s contribution to deal with both the problems of first aid and reconstruction will rise very substantially, and Britain is going to play its part in making its contribution to that enhanced figure.

“What my discussions with the IMF, the World Bank, the US Treasury Secretary and other financial leaders over the last few days have shown to me is that we never want to be in a position again where we have to choose between emergency aid and tackling the underlying causes of poverty. The world ought to be able to do both.

“That is why I will also be putting forward proposals for a new ‘Marshall Plan’ for aid, trade and debt relief for the developing world to release sufficient resources through debt relief and through additional money to be provided by the richest countries and for trade justice so that we can deal with the underlying causes of poverty in Africa and elsewhere as well as providing the aid for reconstruction – that is why 2005 will be a critical year for development under the UK’s presidency.

“What people are realising as a result of this terrible tragedy is that what happens to the poorest citizen in the poorest country affects the richest citizen in the richest country – we are an interdependent world, one moral universe, and I think just as we see the power of nature to destroy, we have seen the power of human compassion to build, and it is on that – people’s moral sense that something has got to be done – that we build the next stage of our efforts to achieve social justice on a global scale.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 8 January 2005.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown today announced that the Treasury will be making a special donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee to offset the VAT charged on the proposed charity concert and charity records designed to raise money specifically for the tsunami appeal.

This will be in addition to the sum of at least £15 million the Treasury currently estimates will be given in tax relief on public contributions to the appeal made through the Gift Aid scheme.

In hundreds of cases throughout the country, CDs, tickets, and similar items are being sold to raise money for the tsunami appeal, and many businesses and performers are also donating the proceeds from their activities to the appeal.

As a one-off gesture, in light of the unprecedented public response to the tsunami appeal, the Treasury will be making a special contribution direct to the Disasters Emergency Committee – a sum which will match the VAT expected to be collected from these fund-raising sales of goods and services.

Gordon Brown said:

“Millions of people and businesses across Britain are showing their compassion and generosity. Where there has been a major concert or record in these circumstances in the past, the Treasury has been willing to make a donation equivalent to the VAT.

“I know there are many who will attend charity concerts, buy charity CDs, and buy other goods and services designed to raise money for the tsunami appeal.

“The Treasury will make a special donation which will cover the VAT charged on these purchases, and will make allowance for sales of other goods and services to raise money for the appeal, and thus we will ensure that all the proceeds go to ease the suffering of those people and communities affected by the tsunami tragedy.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 10 January 2005.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown and Minister for Children Margaret Hodge today officially launched the Child Trust Fund (CTF), announcing the list of 75 official providers and distributors for the CTF.

With the first information packs and vouchers being sent out in the coming days and a major advertising campaign beginning on the 17 January, the Chancellor and Minister for Children addressed representatives of the participating firms this afternoon.

The Chancellor, Gordon Brown, said:

“Our aim is a Britain of ambition and aspiration where not just some but all children have the best possible start in life. The Child Trust Fund is designed to ensure that every child in our country has assets and wealth and that no child is left out and all children in Britain have a stake in the wealth of the nation.

2 million vouchers will start to be issued in the next few days to parents on behalf of all children born after September 1st 2002. So at age 18 every child, no matter what their background, will have some wealth from which to plan their future.

Today’s list of 75 providers and distributors provides a powerful symbol that a wide range of firms, from small friendly societies to some of the largest institutions in the country, share this Government’s vision for a strengthened savings culture.”

Minister for Children, Margaret Hodge, said:

“The Child Trust Fund is not only about giving all children an asset to use when they are 18 and encouraging saving – it is also about improving financial awareness.  The Child Trust Fund offers the real advantage of bringing financial education to life and any discussion of the value of saving will be real rather than theoretical.”

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms, said:

“I am delighted with the response from financial providers and distributors to the Child Trust Fund. The list published today shows that there are institutions from across the financial services industry who collectively serve millions of customers every day, ready to accept Child Trust Fund vouchers from next week.”

The involvement of such a wide range of providers and distributors makes it easy for parents to get information about CTF accounts available and to open one for their child.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 31 January 2005.

Chancellor Gordon Brown today called for a step change in the participation of young people in volunteering, encouraging young people to do voluntary work as part of their normal lives and enabling them to do voluntary work in the UK during pre-college gap years.  He spoke at a conference forming part of the Chancellor’s pre-Budget consultation, involving the voluntary and community sector and businesses, coming at the start of 2005 – The Year of the Volunteer.

The Chancellor was joined by Home Secretary Charles Clarke, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Paul Boateng, and Economic Secretary John Healey. Ian Russell, Chief Executive of Scottish Power plc, announced the results of the Russell Commission consultation on youth volunteering.  The Russell Commission report will be published around the time of the Budget.

The Chancellor highlighted the importance of voluntary action and mentoring, and called for more people to give up time to help others.  He discussed how to expand the participation of young people in volunteering, how to extend the scope of mentoring, and how businesses as well as individuals can be more involved.  He also launched a new guide explaining the tax incentives for corporate giving.

The Chancellor said:

“I believe we have a goodwill mountain just waiting to be tapped.  Building upon the current engagement of young people – 3 million each year in voluntary work – we find that a majority of young people aged 15 to 24 year old – 59 per cent – want to know more about how to get involved in their communities.

Let us set a practical aim: that the majority of young people do volunteer and that over the next five years 1 million new young people become volunteers. And let us now set a national framework: business, government and the voluntary sector working together to encourage, enthuse and engage youth in community action.”

Home Secretary Charles Clarke said:

“Volunteering enables people to make a real difference in both their lives and the lives of others in a huge variety of ways, from working as a mentor to assisting a neighbour do their shopping. Earlier this month the Chancellor and I launched the Year of the Volunteer 2005 which forms an important part of a cross-Government commitment to encourage citizens to give their time to make communities better places for us all.

“I recognise the important role that volunteering can play in a young persons life and the Russell Commission is currently working in partnership with voluntary groups and businesses to identify and build on what works in UK volunteering. Their proposals will inform the Government’s National Youth Volunteering Strategy and I await the Commission’s report with interest.”

Ian Russell, CEO of Scottish Power said:

“By responding to the needs and aims of young volunteers themselves, the national framework aims to make volunteering the norm among young people and help establish a pattern of lifelong engagement which will be to the mutual benefit of the individual, the local community, and Britain as a whole.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 14 February 2005.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Paul Boateng, today presented a full signature Memorandum of Understanding in Mali with Minister for Investment Promotion Ousame Thiam in Bamako. This will provide $45.4 million of debt relief between 2005 and 2015. The meeting took place during the Chief Secretary’s visit to West Africa as part of his Commission for Africa consultations with African nations.

Paul Boateng said:

“Africa is a key priority for the UK presidencies of the G7 and G8. Earlier this month in London G7 finance Ministers indicated that they would be willing to provide as much as 100 per cent multilateral debt relief for the poorest countries. The UK is leading the way by paying our share of the debt owed by Mali to the World Bank and African Development Bank, 10 per cent of the total multilateral debt. We are urging other countries to do the same.

To date, in Mali, resources from bilateral debt relief have led to more spending on education, with almost 2,500 classrooms constructed, and almost 2,000 teachers recruited and trained. This new commitment will allow more resources to be spent on poverty reduction.”

Mr Boateng also visited a programme for widows and orphans at Djicoroni. The programme assists 149 widows, giving them a chance to improve their lot in life, and provides education for the children.

Focusing international commitment on Africa is a key priority for the UK presidencies of the G7/G8 and also for the Commission for Africa. The Commission will make recommendations on the further action needed to ensure that Africa shares in the benefits of globalisation, and meets the Millennium Development Goals.

Speaking at a lunch hosted by Minister Thiam, Mr Boateng highlighted the priorities of the Commission and listened to views on Mali’s priorities for the Africa report and the way forward once the report is presented.

Paul Boateng said:

“Mali is a great country with much potential. I welcome the positive development progress I have seen on this visit. We need to ensure that through working together – through the Commission for Africa and NAPAD  – we continue to tackle all the challenges facing Africa and ensure that Mali can make progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 24 February 2005.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rt. Hon Paul Boateng and Home Office Minister for Race Equality and Community Cohesion, Fiona Mactaggart today hosted a “Third Sector Summit” at Number 11 Downing Street to conclude the work of the 2004 Voluntary and Community Sector Review.

Fifty key representatives from Third Sector organisations were brought together to discuss with Government and make progress on, the role of the Third Sector in public service delivery, as well as funding issues facing the sector and the benefits and best ways of working in partnership.

The full findings of the 2004 Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Review have been published through three publications:

• Working Together, Better Together, which suggests the way forward to build understanding, strengthen local partnerships, and press for progress in particular service areas;
• Exploring the role of the third sector in public service delivery and reform, a discussion document on how the sector can realise its full potential contribution to service delivery, including involvement in the design and evaluation of public services; and
• Effective Local Partnerships, a practical checklist for local practitioners to consider in the development of local compacts, or in entering partnership arrangements with the VCS.

These publications set out the case for the role of the VCS in service delivery and seek to reach out to the local level in order to improve relations between the sector and Government.

During the summit, Ministers also announced:

• plans to update HM Treasury “Guidance to Funders” – with a focus on the implementation of the principle of full cost recovery;
• that HM Treasury and Home Office, among others, will work with the Third Sector in developing the evidence base on the role of the Third Sector and where the sector is best placed to help deliver services;
• a “Clawback Review” in which HM Treasury will review the rules on clawback, endowments and dowries to see how they can be reformed to improve funders’ ability to work in partnership with Third Sector bodies to deliver public and community services; and
• plans to work with the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), the Local Government Association (LGA) and National Association of Councils for Voluntary Service (NACVS) to ensure better communication of the benefits of working with the third sector at a local level.

Paul Boateng said:

“Two years ago I chaired a cross-cutting review of the role of the voluntary and community sector in service delivery. This laid the foundation for a new and exciting phase in the relationship between Government and the VCS. Much progress has been made and we continue to push ambitiously for full implementation of this vision. I hope this further contribution will both deepen and reinforce the foundations for future work between Government and the sector.”

Fiona Mactaggart said:

“The voluntary and community sector can do things for people that public authorities cannot, but public authorities need to work in a way which helps them, protecting their independence and developing the infrastructure they depend on. The aim of this summit and the VCS review is to help us to use the expertise and value of the VCS to improve service delivery.”

Kevin Curley, Chief Executive of NACVS said:

“Relations between the local VCS and central Government have come a long way but we need to make sure messages get out to the local level and make a real difference to those on the ground who deliver services and support community groups. VCS organisations are often hamstrung by the lack of awareness of what the sector can offer, the right messages from central Government being ignored by local authorities, and inefficient, unstable and unhelpful funding relationships. Today’s summit was a great opportunity to discuss this and I am glad to see leadership from Treasury and Home Office ministers. We now need to draw in support from the Audit Commission, which inspects local Government, and the LGA which speaks for it.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 11 August 2004.

Treasury Minister Dawn Primarolo praised the success of the Redhill Sure Start Centre in Stockton on Tees today as she met staff and parents during a visit to the centre.

Speaking at the Redhill Centre, which provides family support, parent outreach services and child and family health services to local families, Dawn Primarolo said:

“I am delighted to be meeting the staff and parents at the Redhill Sure Start Centre which is providing vital support for families in Stockton on Tees. The Sure Start initiative is an important part of the Government’s drive to abolish child poverty and improve opportunities for all parents.

“The wide range of services the Redhill Centre provides to families, including 50 childcare places, help local parents with bringing up children as well as developing their full potential in the workplace. These will be improved even further when it becomes one of the 2,500 new children’s centres, which bring together in one location a variety of services currently offered to young children, parents and carers.

“I am also pleased that many of the parents here are able to take advantage of support for childcare from new tax credits. Over 17,500 families in Stockton on Tees receive tax credits, with 28,700 children already benefiting. I would urge all parents who think they might be eligible to contact the Inland Revenue to ensure they claim their full entitlement.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 21 October 2004.

Treasury Minister John Healey praised the ongoing achievements of the Yorkshire and Humber Enterprise Adviser Service when he met with members of the team at Hemsworth Arts and Community College today.

Following the recommendations of Sir Howard Davies’ Review of “enterprise and the economy in education”, the Chancellor announced a pilot programme of Enterprise Adviser schemes in Budget 2003 to work with 1,000 secondary schools throughout the country.

The Yorkshire and Humber Enterprise Adviser Service’s 14 Enterprise advisers have been working in 114 schools throughout the Region since early 2004. They use enterprise education and activities in schools to develop the skills and confidence that young people need in employment.

The scheme is receiving over £2 million of funding over two years from the Learning and Skills Council.

Speaking in Hemsworth, John Healey said:

“To create a dynamic business culture in this country we need to start within the education system, showing young people the importance of entrepreneurship and the many opportunities available to them. By enthusing the adults of tomorrow in business and enterprise we will help to ensure that all parts of Britain enjoy the economic prosperity that comes from a skilled, diverse and entrepreneurial workforce.

“The Yorkshire and Humber Enterprise Adviser Service is doing excellent work in establishing links between the school and the business community and in promoting the enterprise agenda. I have been impressed by the commitment and innovation of the advisers, teachers and students participating in this scheme at Hemsworth College today. I wish the Service continuing success in the future.”

Eddie Rodgers, chief executive of the West Yorkshire Enterprise Partnership, who manage and deliver the Enterprise Adviser Service Programme in the Yorkshire and Humber region said:

“This project is about giving school leavers a better idea of different career options and the confidence to go into the workplace. Young people need to have the self-belief to be able to make decisions about their future and, if necessary, take some risks. Working closely with schools, our enterprise advisers are bringing entrepreneurial skills into the classroom so that young people are not only prepared for work but can also consider the possibility of running their own business.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 4 November 2004.

New financial backing for an initiative to get thousands of unemployed St Helens residents back to work was welcomed today by Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo on a visit to the town.

St Helens’ Chamber has secured a £524,000 grant from the Merseyside Objective One programme to continue its Starting Point initiative, which aims to provide 3,500 unemployed local people with personalised training, support and back to work plans.

The Chamber will work with local employers and companies looking to relocate to St Helens to offer support with recruitment, including screening applicants, tailoring training for new recruits and supporting new workers in the first months of their new jobs. Starting Point was set up in 2001, and the new funding will enable the service to continue until at least 2007.

Dawn Primarolo today visited St Helens as part of a fact-finding tour on the impact that Objective One funding is making on Merseyside. She said:

“Objective One funding has, along with domestic funding and support, given Merseyside an enviable opportunity to build a new era of prosperity for local people. The bedrock of this transformation must include effective action to tackle the spectre of unemployment that has lingered for so long over some local communities.

“This investment in St Helens will provide vital help and training for people looking for work. It is to be welcomed as an important step towards restoring not just personal pride but also the economic fortunes of the entire borough.”

Starting Point provides a one-stop-shop for employers and jobseekers in St Helens town centre, on Hardshaw Street, where those looking for work can get personalised training, support and advice to pursue the jobs they are best suited to.

Employers will get practical assistance with recruitment, vocational training and developing the skills of their workforce.

Specialised support will be provided for local people and hard-to-reach groups such as the long-term unemployed.

Other funding for the £1 million initiative will come from the single regeneration budget and neighbourhood renewal funds managed by the St Helens local strategic partnership.

Dawn Primarolo today saw other projects in St Helens that have benefited from Objective One funding, including a £1.7 million facelift to the Theatre Royal, the ongoing £1 million refurbishment of the George Street Quarter and the Bold Miners Centre, which was re-opened as a community centre and training facility following a £1.4 million refit.